Syria monitor says 9 killed in sectarian clashes as govt vows accountability

A Syria war monitor on Tuesday said nine people including six Druze fighters were killed in sectarian clashes near Damascus, as authorities blamed “gunmen” and vowed to pursue those involved.

The overnight clashes, sparked by the circulation on social media of an audio recording deemed blasphemous, were met with condemnation from leaders of the Druze religious minority.

The violence follows sectarian massacres last month in the Alawite coastal heartland that were the worst bloodshed since…