The sectarian-tinged violence was directed at a suburb of the Syrian capital with a large population from the Druse minority. Local Druse leaders said they held the government responsible.

Gunfire erupted between the minority Druze sect and pro-government fighters on Tuesday. Fighting broke out after an audio clip circulated of a man criticizing Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

At least 13 people - mostly from Syria’s Druze community - were killed and 17 others injured in armed clashes that erupted early Tuesday in the Druze-majority city of Jaramana, southeast of Damascus,