Syrians hold rallies marking year since offensive that toppled Assad

DAMASCUS, Syria — Demonstrators across multiple Syrian cities condemn the deadly overnight Israeli operation in the south of the country during rallies to mark one year since the start of the offensive that toppled former ruler Bashar al-Assad.

Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa had called on Thursday for Syrians to “go down to the squares” to commemorate the moment his Islamist-led coalition launched an offensive from their Idlib stronghold in northwest Syria that culminated in the toppling of Assad just 11 days later.

Mass rallies take place in Damascus and other major Syrian cities, including Aleppo, Homs, Iblib, Tartu and Latakia, with participants chanting in support of Sharaa and Islamism.

AFP correspondents in the capital say participants condemned the Israeli incursion on Beit Jin, southern Syria, which killed 13 people, holding banners that read “Beit Jin makes us proud” and “stop Israeli attacks.” The IDF said they entered the village to arrest two members of the al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group) terror organization when they came under fire from unknown assailants.

“After we were victorious against Bashar al-Assad, we will be victorious against Israel,” 29-year-old teacher Batul Imad al-Din tells AFP in Damascus.

“We are here in response to those who say that nothing has changed in Syria. We are happy and feel free,” she adds.

Technician Bassel Azizieh says he was “here in support of my state, the state that represents me and the entire Syrian people without exception.”

Since coming to power, Sharaa has been staunch in his insistence on a centralized, unitary Syria while facing calls for federalism for the multi-ethnic, multi-confessional country.

Azizieh says they “also came down to pay our respects to the martyrs of the Israeli aggression” on Beit Jin.

The rallies come days after protests in Latakia and several Alawite-majority areas denouncing repeated abuses targeting the minority community, from which Assad hails.

Sharaa said on Thursday that protesters had “legitimate demands,” emphasizing the importance of “national unity” and reiterating his rejection of federalism.

Mohammed Shukri, 28, says after participating in the Damascus rally that he was “here for the unity of Syria and to say that Syria is one for everyone.”

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.