Damascus/Jerusalem, May 1 (NationPress) The death toll from ongoing sectarian clashes in the southern suburbs of Damascus has risen to 39, including 16 security personnel, following the collapse of ceasefire efforts and a resurgence of intense fighting in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, according to officials and monitoring groups.

On Wednesday, Syrian interior authorities reported that armed factions launched coordinated assaults overnight on security checkpoints and patrols in the agricultural regions surrounding the town, targeting both civilian and security vehicles.

In the initial onslaught, eleven officers from the General Security Directorate lost their lives, with another five casualties occurring during a renewed attack on Wednesday morning, bringing the total number of security personnel fatalities to 16, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.

The Ministry confirmed that attempts at a ceasefire involving local leaders and government representatives were breached when armed groups failed to honor their commitments and resumed hostilities.

"Any attack on public security forces is an attack on national stability," stated the interior authorities, pledging a decisive response.

Additionally, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 22 individuals have died in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya alone, including six local Druze fighters and 16 members of pro-government and security forces.

The confrontations have involved light and medium weaponry, and the ground situation remains unstable.

Notably, low-flying Israeli reconnaissance aircraft were observed over Sahnaya during the clashes, although no strikes were reported.

The recent unrest was triggered by the leak of an audio recording attributed to a member of the Druze community, which contained comments perceived as offensive to Islam.

This recording incited widespread outrage on social media, leading to deadly clashes earlier this week in Jaramana, which resulted in 17 fatalities.

In total, at least 39 individuals have been killed in the latest wave of violence across Jaramana, Sahnaya, and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, encompassing both government forces and local armed factions.

Local officials are actively working to prevent further escalation, but as of Wednesday noon, fighting continued, raising fears that unrest may persist if not swiftly contained.

In a related development, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir has directed the army to prepare for potential strikes on Syrian government targets if violence against Druze communities persists, according to military statements.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli air force targeted what the military described as "operatives on the outskirts of Damascus who had attacked Druze civilians".

The military also noted that it is "monitoring developments in the region," with troops deployed and ready for defense amid ongoing developments in Syria.