Dozens of parties and organizations in North-East Syria released a statement condemning the escalating tension and fighting in Damascus countryside, mainly in areas inhabited by the Druze community.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), forces from the Ministry of Defence took control of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya following intense clashes between local armed groups composed of members of Druze community, and forces from the Ministries of Defence and Interior and their allied units. SOHR reported that Ministry of Defence units were deployed throughout the town searching for wanted individuals and seizing weapons, after blocking all entrances of the region.

According to the observatory, 30 members of the interim government's security forces and affiliated forces, 15 Druze fighters and one civilian were killed in clashes in Jaramana and Sahnaya areas near Damascus on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On the other hand, 15 members of the Druze community were extrajudicially executed after being ambushed by forces of the ministries of defence and interior and other proxy forces on the highway between Damascus and Al-Suwaidaa. The death toll is expected to rise even further, as others have sustained various injuries.

34 parties and organizations in North-East Syria pointed out that it is shameful to try to resolve the contradictions between the Syrian peoples with weapons and violence in the current sensitive process.

The joint statement made on Thursday said that this understanding means serving the enemies of the Syrian peoples and added: “Weapons bring nothing but destruction and bloodshed. Resorting to weapons closes the doors of dialogue and alliance, which is the only way to solve problems and contradictions.”

Appealing to all parties, the statement said, “The war must end, the language of dialogue must prevail in line with national interests and unity, and the language of revenge and sectarian and ethnic provocations must be avoided.”

The joint statement also appealed to political, social and religious institutions, calling on everyone to fulfill their national and moral duties and take action to prevent the war.

The statement concluded: “Syria belongs to all the Syrian people. There is more to unite us than to divide us. Let us preserve our social order. Let us work to stop the bloodshed and build a country of peace, justice and equality.”

Signatories

1-Democratic Union Party (PYD)

2-Green Democratic Party

3-Kurdistan Democratic Peace Party

4-Syrian Kurdish Liberal Party

5- Kurdistan Communist Party

6- Kurdistan Democratic Party - Syria

7-Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party

8-Syrian Kurdish Left Party

9- Syrian Kurdish Democratic Left Party

10- Future of Syria Party

11- Kurdistan Democratic Change Party

12- Kurdistan Progressive Movement – Syria

13- Kurdistan Workers' Union (YKK)

14- Arab National Council (Heye El Weteniye El Arabiya)

15-Syrian Democratic Progressive Party

16- Syrian Kurdish Democratic Alliance Party

17-Syrian Reform Party

18-Democratic Assyrian Party

19- Kurdistan Brotherhood Party (PBK)

20- Syrian Democratic Roj Party

21-Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM)

22-Kongra Star

23-Conservatives Party

24-Democratic Struggle Party

25- Kurdistan Future Wave (Şepêla Pêşeroj a Kurdistanê)

26-Kurdistan Democratic Party - Rojava

27-Democratic Change Party

28-Syriac Unity Party

29-Kurdistan National Community Party

30-Kurdistan National Congress (KNK)

31-Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (Yekitî)

32-Syrian Revolutionary Left Movement

33- Partiya Sûraya ya Demokrat

34-Syrian Patriotic Party (Partiya El Weten El Sûrî)