Syrian government, Jaramana leaders reach deal on weapons handover

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
Today 00:17
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The Syrian government and Jaramana leaders agreed on the latter handing over weapons and the former boosting security forces.

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A photo shows Suweida Governor Mustafa al-Bakour and the commander of the Syrian Army's 40th Division monitoring the deployment of army and public security forces in the town of al-Sura al-Kubra in the northern Suweida countryside (Syrian Arab News Agency)

The Syrian government and community leaders in the city of Jaramana, south of Damascus, reached an agreement providing for the latter's immediate handover of heavy weapons, followed by the phased handover of individual arms, with all weapons to be exclusively held by official state institutions, Damascus Countryside Security Chief Hossam al-Tahan announced on Thursday evening.

A couple of days ago, violence erupted in Jaramana following the circulation of an audio recording on social media containing insults against Prophet Muhammad, attributed to a Druze cleric, an act considered criminal under Syrian law.

Several statements from Druze religious leaders condemned the offensive recording. Despite these denouncements, armed groups launched attacks on several Druze-majority areas south of the Syrian capital, which left dozens killed and several others injured amid tensions.

In remarks to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), al-Tahan noted that the agreement also includes the increased deployment of General Security forces within Jaramana to reinforce stability and restore normalcy, as well as the positioning of Syrian Ministry of Defense units on the city's outskirts to ensure its security.

Separately, the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) confirmed the conclusion of a peaceful agreement between the Syrian administration and the people of Jaramana aimed at resolving ongoing tensions.

Druze religious leadership in Suweida: Druze are an inseparable part of Syria

In a related development, the Druze religious leadership in Suweida emphasized that they are "an inseparable part of a unified Syrian homeland," firmly rejecting any form of partition, secession, or division.

In a statement, the leadership reaffirmed its commitment to a nation that includes all Syrians and is free from strife and sectarian divisions, adding, "The blood of the martyrs compels us to remain united and firmly bonded within Syria."

The statement also underscored the need to empower the Ministry of Interior and the judicial police in Suweida using personnel from the city itself, while affirming that securing the Suweida-Damascus road and maintaining safety across Syrian territory is the responsibility of the state.

Large fatalities recorded in Syria's Suweida, Sahnaya clashes

Earlier on Thursday, local sources told Al Mayadeen that a large number of fatalities have been documented as a result of ongoing clashes in Syria, with the death toll in Suweida alone exceeding 40, in addition to several missing persons.

In Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, 15 fatalities have been recorded, including five individuals who were killed in field executions, according to the same sources.

Rampant field executions, abuse

The sources added that five field executions have been documented so far, the latest being that of the mayor, Hossam Warwar, and his son, Haidar.

Warwar had appeared in a video aired by Syria TV welcoming the General Security Forces, only to be killed after those forces disarmed the Druze residents in the area.

Al Mayadeen's sources also reported that members of the security forces documented their own abuses in Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya through videos, in which they appeared insulting detainees.

They also recorded scenes of verbal abuse, forced head-shaving, insults, and mockery.

According to the sources, the current situation in Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya is “less horrific than portrayed,” while confirming that violations, harassment, and provocations continue.

They also affirmed that all five documented field executions occurred after the General Security Forces had entered the area.

Local sources also said that Leith al-Balous, a senior figure in the Rijal al-Karama (Men of Dignity) movement in Suweida, survived an assassination attempt.

Meanwhile, Syria TV reported that unknown gunmen attacked a Ministry of Defense outpost in the al-Quriyah desert, east of Deir Ezzor, taking advantage of the ongoing dust storm in the area.