Syria.. Security spreads in Jaramana and a Druze committee lifts cover from militants

The Director of Security of the Damascus Countryside Governorate, Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Tahan, said today, Sunday, that the security forces have deployed in the city of Jaramana, and will work to end the state of chaos and illegal checkpoints in the area.

In statements reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Tahan added that the deployment of security forces in Jaramana - which is described as having a Druze majority - came after those involved in the incident of killing a security officer and wounding others refused to surrender themselves.

The Director of Security of Rif Dimashq Governorate added that the security services will work to arrest those involved in the murder incident and bring them to justice.

The Syrian security official said that the militants in Jaramana, who are outside the authority of the state, rejected all mediations.

For its part, the Civil Action Committee in Jaramana stated that it was agreed to reactivate the police station and allow its members to enter the city, and that a delegation of local sheikhs would accompany the district members to their headquarters.

The Civil Action Committee confirmed - in a statement on its Facebook page - that the agreement came after a meeting that included high-level figures from the Syrian leadership and sheikhs of the city of Jaramana, and said that the residents and dignitaries authorized the city’s sheikhs to follow up and implement the agreement.

Al Jazeera's correspondent reported earlier today that calm had gradually begun to return to Jaramana after hours of security tension between local forces calling themselves the "Jaramana Military Shield" and the General Security Department affiliated with the Interior Ministry following a personal dispute that resulted in the death of a security officer affiliated with the ministry.

Lift the lid

In contrast, the Spiritual Authority of the Druze Unitarian Community in the City of Jaramana said in a statement that it had decided to “lift the cover from all offenders and outlaws and work to reactivate the Jaramana District Center as quickly as possible and with competencies capable of managing the reality wisely and competently.”

According to the statement of this body, Jaramana, throughout its history, has never been anything but a part of the Ghouta of Damascus, and it will never have any other depth than the Syrian depth of Damascus.

Al Jazeera's correspondent reported yesterday that a delegation from Sweida arrived in the city of Jaramana to contain the tension.

A quarrel broke out between two young men from Jaramana, after which one of them was transferred to a hospital in Damascus after he was injured in his hand. However, the events developed there after a dispute between the young man’s companions and the security forces, which led to the companions of the people of Jaramana and the military force inside it being mobilized and clashes taking place with the government’s General Security.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office previously reported that Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz had instructed the army to protect the residents of Jaramana, south of the Syrian capital.

Source: Al Jazeera