Rapid developments amid escalating violence during protests in Syria’s coast, interior

Residents of cities and rural areas across the coast and interior took to the streets today in large, peaceful protests against the policies of Syria’s transitional government, calling for an end to violations and demanding federalism and the right to self-determination. The demonstrations unfolded amid heavy security deployment, roadblocks in several areas, and efforts to prevent protesters from reaching gathering points.

Protesters raised banners reading: “Alawite, Sunni, Christian, Druze, Kurdish; we are all brothers,” “Federalism does not mean division; federalism is a right for every people,” “No to civil war, yes to federalism,” and “We want political decentralization.”

Demonstrators were subjected to attacks by groups supportive of the transitional government at several locations, most notably Al-Zira’a Roundabout in Latakia, the Architecture Roundabout in Jableh, and the Al-Qusour neighborhood in Baniyas. The assaults included beatings and the use of sharp tools, as well as attempts to prevent media activists from documenting the events, in addition to arrests in some areas.

In Latakia, several protesters were injured by gunfire directed at them, while others sustained varying injuries in Jableh, where one case was described as critical, following an attack carried out by groups using knives and machetes at the intersection near Al-Zira’a Roundabout, causing panic at the scene.

In the same context, groups loyal to the transitional government carried out attacks on peaceful protesters in attempts to disperse the demonstrations, coinciding with the establishment of security checkpoints and road closures in a number of neighborhoods and towns along the Syrian coast and in western rural Homs, areas with an Alawite majority.

Additional tensions were reported at Al-Azhari Roundabout in Latakia, where General Security forces fired shots to disperse protesters following clashes that erupted after one participant raised flags associated with takfiri mercenaries within the demonstration. This led to confrontations, attempted vehicle-ramming incidents, and stone-throwing at homes.

In Baniyas, in the Tartous countryside, young men were assaulted by transitional government forces in the Al-Qusour neighborhood while attempting to reach the protest site. Arrests, beatings, and the smashing of civilians’ mobile phones were also reported in the village of Fahl in western rural Homs.

These developments come as protests demanding civil and political rights continue, amid growing fears of further escalation and renewed calls to ensure the safety of demonstrators and to halt attacks on peaceful protests across Syria’s coastal and interior regions.

A-H 

ANHA