Syrians Protest After Fatal Strike in South
Crowds in Damascus and Homs demanded an end to Israeli military operations in the border regions following the death of a disabled man.
By Leila Reynolds ·
Tensions rose across Syria on Friday as large crowds took to the streets. Protesters gathered in the capital and central cities to voice their anger. The immediate trigger was a recent Israeli incursion in the south. During that operation, a man with a disability was killed. This event sparked widespread demonstrations against repeated military activity in the region.
State media reported that significant crowds formed in Damascus and Homs. The demonstrators focused their criticism on the southern provinces of Quneitra and Daraa. An AFP correspondent noted that hundreds of people attended a rally in Daraa. Many waved Syrian flags as they marched. The mood was one of unified defiance against the military presence.
Taysir al-Hariri, a participant in the protests, spoke to AFP about the group's goal. He said the demonstrators wanted to "send a message to the world." He added that Syria stood united "against Israeli incursions and against anyone who is tempted to tamper. with national security." The slogan highlighted the desire for international awareness of the situation.
Footage from state television showed marchers carrying specific posters. The signs read "We are all Moaz." This phrase referenced the man with special needs who died in the recent attack. Syria stated he was killed by Israeli fire during an incursion in Daraa province. The slogan became a central symbol of the rallies across the country.
In another display of public sentiment, families of detainees joined the protests. Outside a United Nations building in Damascus, the family of a Syrian man seized by Israel gathered. They called for his immediate release. Children in the crowd held up posters with a simple message. The signs read "I want my dad." These personal appeals added an emotional weight to the political demands.
State media also detailed further military movements on Friday. Israeli forces advanced into part of Quneitra province. Several roads were blocked by the advancing troops. In the affected areas, soldiers bulldozed olive groves. Checkpoints were established to control movement. Local residents were detained during these operations. These actions intensified the local sense of intrusion.
The current conflict is part of a larger pattern since late 2024. The new Syrian government took power after toppling longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December of that year. Since then, the Israeli military has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria. Frequent incursions into the country have become common. Israel also sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone. This area had separated the two armies on the Golan Heights since 1974.
Israel has stated its intention to keep troops in a designated "security zone" in southern Syria. The country seeks to create a broader demilitarized area. This strategic move continues to shape the dynamics along the border. The recent protests highlight the domestic reaction to these ongoing military decisions.
