The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted an unnamed security source as saying: "Our forces have begun a large-scale combing operation in the Ashrafieh Sahnaya area, with the aim of arresting the outlaw gangs that have used this area as a launching pad for their terrorist operations against residents and security forces."
Earlier on Wednesday, 11 civilians and Syrian security personnel were killed in attacks launched by "outlaw groups" in Ashrafieh Sahnaya in the Rif Dimashq governorate.
The Ministry of Health's media office announced, according to what was reported by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), that "the death toll from the targeting of civilians and security forces by outlaw groups in Ashrafieh Sahnaya has risen to 11 martyrs, in addition to a number of injuries."
The agency reported that "outlaw groups from the Ashrafieh Sahnaya area attacked a checkpoint belonging to the General Security Department yesterday evening (Tuesday), resulting in three officers being injured with varying degrees of severity," without providing further details.
These events come after the Syrian Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that there were deaths and injuries following clashes between armed groups in the Druze-populated Jaramana neighborhood south of Damascus.
The ministry explained in a statement that these clashes "came against the backdrop of the spread of an audio clip insulting the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and the subsequent incitement and hate speech on social media."
She indicated that the clashes "resulted in deaths and injuries (without specifying a number), including members of the security forces deployed in the area," confirming the imposition of a security cordon and the pursuit of those involved.
On December 8, 2024, Syrian factions took control of the country, ending 61 years of Baath Party rule and 53 years of Assad family control.
On January 29, 2025, the new Syrian administration announced the appointment of Sharaa as president for a transitional period scheduled to last five years.
