Attacks on Druze Residents in Damascus Suburbs and Suweida Include HLP Violations

At the end of April, the towns of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, predominantly inhabited by Druze and a Christian minority in the Damascus countryside, witnessed an armed attack carried out by forces affiliated with the Ministries of Defence and Interior. The assault led to the storming and destruction of 85 homes in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya and 60 in Sahnaya, and the forced displacement of large numbers of residents without prior warning.

Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya saw urban development over the past century, evolving from agricultural villages into residential suburbs linked to the capital Damascus, thanks to their proximity to the Damascus-Daraa highway. Compared to other areas, both towns remained relatively stable during the war, making them a refuge for those displaced from conflict zones, particularly the nearby city of Darayya.

The violence was sparked by a fabricated audio recording falsely attributed to a Druze cleric insulting the Prophet Muhammad. This quickly led to sectarian incitement, including protests, harassment of Druze students, and calls for their extermination. Despite denials from the cleric and condemnations by Druze leaders, the transitional government used the moment to demand disarmament of Druze factions, prompting clashes that spread from Jaramana to Sahnaya and eventually the outskirts of Suweida.

In Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, the attacking forces included units from the Ministries of Defence and Interior, as well as Salafi and tribal groups from Nahr Aisha, Sbeneh, Deir-ez-Zor, and Daraa. Opposing them was a newly formed local Druze force created after the fall of the Assad regime, aimed at protecting homes and public property. Led by figures like Yasser Al-Hajj Ali and supported by Druze factions in Suweida, the group coordinated with local committees and enjoyed broad support as a stabilizing force in the area.

The clashes began with heavy shelling and sniper fire that caused structural damage to homes. Attackers seized tall buildings near a branch of Arab Bank Syria and turned them into sniper and surveillance posts. Several houses were repurposed as temporary military bases to store weapons and ammunition, marking a shift from political pressure to direct military assault on Druze residential areas.

In an attempt to de-escalate the conflict, a delegation of Druze religious leaders and notables from Suweida travelled to Sahnaya to negotiate a ceasefire. Though an agreement was reached to halt attacks and investigate the violations with accountability for the attackers, it was not implemented, and clashes continued until the local defending groups surrendered. According to local sources, among the 27 killed were civilians, including the mayor of Sahnaya and his son, who were executed on the spot. The Syrian Interior Ministry reported 16 members of the General Security Directorate killed during the clashes.

After the fighting subsided, the attackers forcibly entered homes, breaking doors and windows under the pretext of “weapons searches”. Families were confined to single rooms and their movements restricted during the raids. These searches were accompanied by looting and vandalism: 85 homes in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya and 60 in Sahnaya were reportedly affected. The attackers destroyed furniture, interior doors, and household appliances, and there were incidents of indiscriminate gunfire inside homes. Anything that could be carried was taken, including gold jewellery, money, electronics such as mobile phones and computers, furniture, and electrical equipment. Cars were also stolen from driveways and surrounding streets and used by the armed groups to move around the area. Some homes were set ablaze after being looted, completely destroying them. Hand grenades and DShK shells were used to burn parts of houses, rendering many of them permanently uninhabitable.

Residents told The Syria Report that the raids specifically targeted Druze-owned homes, while homes of other sects were left untouched. Some Sunni and Christian residents confirmed that the attackers asked specifically about Druze-owned properties before breaking in.

In the early hours of the attack, many residents fled their homes and headed toward Druze villages in Mount Hermon, considered relatively safer due to the closure of the Damascus–Suweida road by the security forces and the family ties linking Sahnaya to Mount Hermon. The displacement was swift, leaving many unable to take personal belongings. The exodus intensified as the raids escalated. Displaced individuals told The Syria Report that they fled due to home invasions, looting, and frequent incidents of random gunfire in residential areas. Despite efforts by local elders and religious figures to encourage returns after the clashes ended, many residents remained fearful of renewed violence. They demanded clear security guarantees, especially given the repeated violations and lack of accountability for the attackers. At the same time, returning home seemed difficult for many due to the extensive damage to their houses and the fear of ongoing violations. The General Security continues to raid homes arbitrarily, specifically targeting the houses of the Druze community without legal warrants. For example, on May 17, a General Security patrol raided a house in Sahnaya for the third time in weeks, without providing any explanation or official authorisation. These repeated violations have forced hundreds of families to flee in search of safety.

In summary, the attacks on Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya resulted in grave violations of housing, land, and property rights, marked by discrimination against members of the Druze community. The violence led to widespread property destruction, looting, and the burning of homes, and triggered a mass displacement to Mount Hermon villages, where residents were forced to flee their homes in fear of further violence and killings.