Today, Friday, July 12th, scattered protests erupted in Idlib and its countryside demanding the ouster of the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham controlling Idlib, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, and the release of prisoners.

Cities, towns, and villages including Idlib, Binnish, Qorqania, Abin Samaan, Qmenas, Armanaz, Ariha, al-Sahara, and Kafr Takharim witnessed protests, with locals taking to the streets in peaceful demonstrations to voice their demands, as observed by Enab Baladi‘s correspondent.

Protesters also held banners criticizing Turkey’s move towards normalizing political relations with the Syrian regime, and called for the fall of Bashar al-Assad and al-Jolani.

Residents of Abin Samaan in the countryside of Idlib demand the removal of al-Assad and al-Jolani – July 12, 2024 (Enab Baladi/Iyad Abdul Jawad)

Residents of Abin Samaan raise banners criticizing Turkey’s move to normalize relations with the Syrian regime – July 12, 2024 (Enab Baladi/Iyad Abdul Jawad)

The protesters showed solidarity with the people of Binnish, Idlib – July 12, 2024 (Enab Baladi/Iyad Abdul Jawad)

Solidarity with Binnish

These protests come after the city of Binnish witnessed the deployment of General Security Service forces at the city entrances and main roads ahead of a planned demonstration, following a state of tension and arrests of protesters and the burning of a police station last week.

The city of Binnish received sympathy and solidarity from protesters, religious jurists, and sheikhs in surrounding cities and towns, amidst criticism of the armed presence of Tahrir al-Sham in its neighborhoods and the attempt to silence voices by force.

Prior to these protests, last week saw gunfire aimed at a demonstration against al-Jolani in Binnish city, eastern Idlib.

There were also protests in several other areas, including the city of Idlib, the town of Killi in its countryside, and the village of Abin Samaan in the countryside of Aleppo, as a continuation of the protests witnessed by several cities and towns in areas controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

Enab Baladi‘s correspondent in Idlib reported from protesters that the shooting by security personnel affiliated with Tahrir al-Sham at the end of the demonstration and the arrest of some individuals was met with an attack by locals on the Binnish police station and the burning of a police vehicle.

The Ministry of Interior in the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) stated in its report that the Binnish police station was subjected to gunfire, assault on its officers, and the smashing of police cars, with one car set ablaze.

The Popular Movement in Binnish issued a statement rejecting “any form of violence and vandalism against any public facility or its subsidiaries.”

The statement added that what happened at the Binnish police station has no connection to the movement, and that the arbitrary arrests by the General Security Service are unjustified, holding Tahrir al-Sham responsible for such actions.