Hundreds of Syrians have taken to the streets across the Arab country to protest against foreign intervention, following controversial comments by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Demonstrators gathered in al-Karama Square in the Druze-majority central city of Suwayda Tuesday to voice their opposition specifically to Netanyahu's recent call for the “demilitarization” of southern Syria, local Syrian media outlets reported.
"From Suwayda to Qamishlo, and from Dara’a to Idlib ... Syria belongs to the Syrians, not the property of any alliance or mandate,” chanted the demonstrators.
The protests united diverse communities, including Sunni, Christian, Druze, and Kurdish citizens, showcasing a collective stance against external pressures and occupations, particularly from Turkey and the Israeli regime.
Protesters expressed strong contempt for both Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, asserting that they do not represent the interests of the Syrian people.
The slogan "al-Suwayda is a red line" emerged as a resounding declaration of resistance, emphasizing that legitimacy in Syria should not be dictated by foreign powers.
They called for solidarity among all Syrian communities, stressing that all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliations, “are united by a single history and an indivisible identity represented by citizenship on the geography of the country.”
Demonstrators urged the Syrian administration in Damascus to take a firm stand against foreign interventions and uphold national sovereignty.
In a show of solidarity, protests also erupted in Quneitra, where residents condemned Netanyahu's remarks as indicative of Israel's intentions to fragment Syrian territory.
Protesters in Quneitra characterized their demonstrations as a direct response to the ongoing Israeli occupation and called for international pressure to ensure Israel’s compliance with the 1974 Disengagement Agreement with Syria.
As the protests continued, demonstrators in Quneitra raised banners promoting “Syrian unity” and denouncing division, reinforcing the message that the land rightfully belongs to its inhabitants.
Similarly, the city of Aleppo witnessed a public gathering in Saadallah al-Jabiri Square in protest against Netanyahu’s recent remarks.
Dozens of protesters also gathered outside the UN office in the capital, Damascus, condemning Netanyahu’s comments and Israel’s violations of Syria’s sovereignty.
This came after Netanyahu called for the “complete demilitarization” of southern Syria, suggesting a prolonged Israeli military presence in the area, particularly around the strategic Mount Hermon and the buffer zone in Quneitra, Dara’a, and Suwayda.
Netanyahu also warned that Israel “would not permit” forces affiliated with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) or the new Syrian army to enter the area south of Damascus.
Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes have conducted multiple airstrikes on military targets across Syria, targeting installations in Kiswah, south of Damascus, and other sites in Dara’a.
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth also reported that Tel Aviv had begun implementing a strategy to “enter southern Syria and control” the region.
Israeli forces occupied large swathes of the UN-patrolled buffer zone on Syrian territory, which was set up under a 1974 ceasefire agreement, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in December.
Following the downfall of Assad’s government, the Israeli military has been launching airstrikes against military installations, facilities, and arsenals belonging to Syria’s now-defunct army.
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