Syria: Protests Erupt Following Fatal Incident in Daraa
Demonstrations across the country object to foreign military actions in southern provinces following the death of a disabled resident.
By Anastasia Volkova ·
Syrian citizens gathered in large numbers on Friday to protest military operations in the country's southern regions, an outcry triggered by the death of a man with a disability during an incursion earlier this week. The demonstrations in the capital Damascus, the central city of Homs, and the southern city of Daraa reflect deep concern over repeated foreign military activity in the provinces of Quneitra and Daraa. According to reports from state media, the rallies were organized to condemn these attacks and incursions.
In Daraa, an AFP correspondent observed hundreds of participants, some waving national flags. One demonstrator, Taysir al-Hariri, stated that the gathering was intended to 'send a message to the world' affirming unity 'against Israeli incursions and against anyone who is tempted to tamper. with national security'. The mood at these gatherings appears driven by specific recent casualties and ongoing territorial disputes.
State television broadcasts displayed marchers holding placards bearing the slogan 'We are all Moaz'. This phrase refers to the man with special needs who Syrian authorities report was killed by fire during an incursion in Daraa province a day prior. The use of such personal slogans indicates a focus on individual loss alongside broader political grievances.
Outside a United Nations facility in Damascus, the family of a Syrian national detained by Israel staged a call for his release. During this demonstration, children displayed posters stating 'I want my dad'. These specific appeals highlight the human cost associated with the military operations, extending beyond the immediate casualties of the recent incursions.
Further details regarding the situation in the south emerged Friday. State media reported that Israeli forces advanced into a section of Quneitra province and blocked access to several roads. Troops have reportedly bulldozed olive groves, established checkpoints, and detained residents in the area, actions that disrupt daily life and local agriculture.
The military has conducted hundreds of strikes and frequent incursions into Syrian territory since the new government assumed power after toppling longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Israeli forces also entered a UN-patrolled buffer zone that had separated Israeli and Syrian forces on the mainly Israeli-occupied Golan Heights since 1974.
Israel has vowed to keep troops in a so-called 'security zone' in southern Syria, where it seeks a broader demilitarised area. This stated objective explains the continued presence and activity of foreign forces in the region, despite the local opposition expressed in Friday's rallies.
Source: Middle East Eye
