ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The spokesperson for the secretary-general of the United Nations on Thursday said Syria’s interim authorities must ensure the safety of minorities and protect civilians as Damascus is again facing international criticism for sectarian violence.
“As we've said here many times, it is important that every one of the nationalities, the minorities, religious minorities, ethnic minorities in Syria feel safe in their country. And it is the responsibility of the interim authorities to ensure that that is the case,” Stephane Dujarric told Rudaw during his weekly press conference.
Dozens of people have been killed in days of clashes between armed groups affiliated with Damascus and members of the Druze community in southern Syria.
Dujarric described the clashes as “very concerning.”
“There are interim authorities in Damascus that ended the rule of President Assad and his family. They are now in charge on an interim basis and they have to hold up internationally recognized standards, notably on the protection of civilians,” he said.
The violence was reportedly triggered by an audio clip of a man insulting Prophet Mohammed. The recording was falsely attributed to a Druze leader.
France, Germany, and the United States have condemned the violence.
Damascus received similar criticism in March after hundreds of people were killed in violence in Alawite-majority areas on the coast.
Israel has carried out several airstrikes in southern Syria in recent days in support of the Druze community. On Friday morning, Israeli warplanes struck in the vicinity of the presidential palace in Damascus after warning the Syrian government not to deploy forces to Druze-majority areas in the south.
Syria condemned the strike and called on the international community to “stand by Syria in confronting these hostile acts.”
