JARAMANA, SYRIA – In a stunning shift from civilian life to armed resistance, local estate agent Fahd Haidar abandoned his business this week to take up arms in defense of his hometown of Jaramana. The Damascus suburb—home to a significant Druze and Christian population—came under violent attack by Islamist factions reportedly loyal to Syria’s new ruling authorities.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 17 people were killed in the intense clashes that broke out between Monday and Tuesday. Among the victims were seven Druze fighters who had taken up arms to protect their neighborhoods.
By Wednesday, the unrest spread further south to Sahnaya, another nearby town, where deadly confrontations claimed the lives of 22 more combatants, escalating fears of wider sectarian violence.
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Nearly a decade and a half after former President Bashar al-Assad crushed anti-government protests—igniting a devastating civil war—the country remains fragile. With Assad ousted from power in December, many like Haidar fear Syria could once again slide into an abyss of violence and instability.
“I fear we’re heading back into chaos,” Haidar said. “If this continues, every Syrian will feel the weight of these grievances. We need immediate, bold solutions to stop these rogue armed factions.”
Local leaders in Jaramana negotiated with representatives of the transitional government on Tuesday night, leading to a tentative ceasefire. But by dawn on Wednesday, hundreds of armed Druze, some barely in their teens, were stationed across the town’s key points, witnesses told AFP.
Behind makeshift barricades made from sandbags and earth, Druze defenders distributed weapons and ammunition, preparing for any potential resurgence in violence.
“For two days now, Jaramana has been on high alert,” said activist Rabii Mondher. “There’s a collective sense of dread — of being besieged, of more bloodshed. We desperately want peace. We have to live together, whether we like it or not.”
Tragedy has already struck many families. Mounir Baaker, still mourning the loss of his nephew Riadh—one of the young Druze men who recently joined the new government’s security forces—spoke through tears as neighbors came to offer their condolences.
“We’re not raised to retaliate or seek vengeance,” Baaker said, holding up a photo of Riadh. “We’re taught to be tolerant. But when we’re attacked, we have no choice but to defend ourselves.”
The violence in Jaramana underscores the deep divisions and volatility still present in Syria’s transitional period. As tensions rise, the world watches closely, hoping that fragile ceasefires and local diplomacy can prevent a relapse into full-scale conflict.