ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – At least 14 people were killed and multiple others wounded in sectarian clashes sparked by an audio recording in the majority-Druze Damascus suburb of Jaramana .

After an audio clip, purportedly of a Druze individual, that included remarks deemed blasphemous made the rounds on the internet, a wave of sectarian backlash led to violent confrontations.

"The number of deaths reached 14 in a preliminary toll, namely: 7 from the locals of the city and the injury of 15 others, in addition to the killing of 7 of the Syrian government's rebel forces," according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

The watchdog warned that the death toll could "rise further with the ongoing clashes," adding that the clashes began on Monday and have since continued.

SOHR laid the blame for the attack at the feet of "security forces and affiliated gunmen."

Meanwhile, the Syrian Interior Ministry vowed to hold accountable and "pursue those involved," adding that a probe is ongoing into the recording.

The Druze are a religious minority that live in Syria and other parts of the Levant, subscribing to an Abrahamic faith and calling themselves al-Muwahiddun (the monotheists). Their beliefs share numerous similarities with other Abrahamic religions. Druze religious tenets emphasize divine unity, a belief in reincarnation, and the eternity of the soul.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel group that spearheaded a December offensive that saw former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad deposed, now comprises the bulk of the Syrian military. HTS leader and current Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa sparked concerns amongst the international community upon his ascension to power due to his former ties with the al-Qaeda extremist organization. However, his administration has repeatedly promised inclusive and tolerant rule for all ethnic and religious minorities in the country. 

In spite of these vows of inclusivity, Syrian security forces in March carried out an extensive campaign of "public executions" against the minority Alawites in the coastal regions of the west of the country, killing over 1,700 men, women, and children.

The Druze religious leadership, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the "fabricated" audio clip was meant to "sow strife and division," and they reject any insult targeting the Prophet Mohammed.