Protests in As-Suwayda against Turkey, Israel

Hundreds of residents of As-Suwayda and its countryside protested against any foreign intervention or attempts to divide the country, emphasizing "the importance of unity to confront foreign attempts aimed at occupying Syrian lands, primarily the Turkish and Israeli occupations."

The movements came under slogans affirming Syria's sovereignty and identity, rejecting any guardianship from regional or international powers.

Unity of land and people

The protesters firmly rejected announcements like those made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the recent statements exchanged between him and the Turkish authorities regarding Syria.

Saying: "From As-Suwayda to Qamishlo, and from Daraa to Idlib... Syria belongs to the Syrians, and it is not the property of any alliance or mandate."

They pointed out that the diversity between Sunni, Christian, Druze, and Kurdish "is united by a single history and an indivisible identity represented by citizenship on the geography of the country."

Rejection of external guardianship

Participants directed sharp criticisms at the Turkish occupying state president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Netanyahu, considering that they "are not guardians of the Syrians." The protesters affirmed that "the protection of Syria comes from our unity, our minds, and our nationalism, not from external entities," calling on the authority in Damascus to assume its responsibilities in responding to the interventions of both parties and to express a clear and explicit stance.

As-Suwayda is a red line.

The slogan " As-Suwayda is a red line" was raised as a symbol of rejecting any attacks or intervention, while the protesters emphasized that "legitimacy is not represented by foreign powers." The role of Syrians in defending Syrian territory was also praised.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded on Sunday that "southern Syria be completely demilitarized" in a speech delivered to a new batch of officers in Holon, south of Tel Aviv. He said, "We will not allow the forces of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham organization or the New Syrian Army to enter the area south of Damascus."

He continued: "We demand the complete disarmament in southern Syria," noting that Israeli forces will remain in Mount Hermon and the buffer zone in Syria for an additional period. He emphasized that they are committed to protecting the Druze in southern Syria, and Israel will not tolerate any threat to them.

The Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, said that "Israel" is working to create an environment of instability in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria under the pretext of its national security, considering that its policies aim to impose regional hegemony through military escalation; this was during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Ankara today, Monday.

ANHA