Over the weekend, violent clashes erupted between forces of the new Syrian regime and Druze residents of Jaramana, a town on the southeast outskirts of Damascus. These confrontations soon escalated into outright fighting, reportedly resulting in the deaths of two regime personnel and injuries to dozens of others.
The clashes began on March 1, when Druze forces in Jaramana established a checkpoint at the town’s entrance in response to a similar checkpoint set up by regime forces nearby. Several operatives from the regime’s security forces who approached the Druze checkpoint were stopped by local militia members, who demanded that they surrender their weapons. Conflicting reports exist regarding the precise sequence of events that followed, leading to one regime operative killed, and another was wounded and captured by the Druze.
Following the incident, both sides mobilized reinforcements to the area, and the clashes continued throughout Saturday. Meanwhile, delegations of elders and leaders from Suwayda arrived in Jaramana in an attempt to mediate and de-escalate the situation. As for this writing, tensions appear to have subsided.
It is difficult to overlook the recent series of events involving Syria’s Druze community in recent weeks and days. These include the establishment of a Druze military council in Suwayda, Israeli statements regarding the protection of the Druze in Syria, and reports of humanitarian aid sent by the Druze community in Israel to Syria.
Regarding Jaramana, Israel issued a public warning to the Syrian regime on March 1. An official statement said that the Prime Minister and the defense minister have ordered the IDF to prepare to defend Jaramana, adding that and “If the regime harms the Druze, it will be struck by us.”
It is reasonable to assess that these developments have further intensified tensions between the Druze and the new Syrian regime. These tensions stems, in part, from President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s efforts to consolidate his rule by dismantling local militias and integrating them into the new army and security forces. However, the Druze did not rush to take part in these efforts, with significant opposition voiced within the community.
Considering the broader geopolitical landscape following the fall of the Assad regime, it appears that Israel is actively working to reshape its relationship with Syria and the dynamics along their shared border. Israel is seizing the strategic window of opportunity created by the collapse of Assad’s rule. This is evident in several key developments, including IDF operations within the buffer zone, the destruction of Assad’s remaining military weapons, statements of support for the Druze, demands for the demilitarization of southern Syria, and measures to counter the new regime’s attempts to establish control in Daraa province.
