Protesters in Syria’s southern province of As-Suwayda took to the streets again today, Friday, August 9, confirming the continuation of their peaceful movement for the 359th consecutive day.

The local network Suwayda 24 reported that crowds of protesters gathered from various villages and areas of the province to participate in the central demonstration in the al-Karamah Square, demanding the overthrow of the regime.

The demonstration included speeches, chants of popular songs, and the honoring of engineer Mursil al-Barouqi in al-Karamah Square, who previously refused government recognition due to his opposition to the regime.

The banners published by Suwayda 24 included pictures and phrases affirming the continuation of the protesters’ revolution, and signs demanding freedom, the overthrow of the regime, and the implementation of UN Resolution 2254.

The As-Suwayda Media Center mentioned that the demonstrators in al-Karamah Square welcomed the delegation of the village of Mef’ala with chants affirming the unity of ranks, which the Syrian regime and Iran are trying to infiltrate.

The center added that the people took to the streets today despite the psychological warfare waged by the Syrian regime and Iran to create confusion in the province and cause security breaches, and their continuous efforts to escalate this war to the point of internal fighting and diverting the people’s attention from the main planner.

The town of Mef’ala, northeast of As-Suwayda, witnessed tension on August 7 due to the prevention of protesters from entering the town and gunfire in the air by an armed faction loyal to the regime.

According to the local network Suwayda 24, the Military Intelligence supported a man named Salim Hamid to form a new armed faction.

Today’s central demonstration comes a week before the first anniversary of the start of the peaceful protest movement in As-Suwayda, which began on August 17, 2023, demanding freedom and the overthrow of the regime, amidst repeated attempts by the regime to abort this movement.

On July 15, a group of protesters in As-Suwayda was shot at by Syrian regime forces fortified in the building of the Baath Party branch in the city after the protesters attempted to reclose the building, resulting in a civilian injury during a demonstration near the same building.

Jawad al-Barouqi also died from wounds sustained by regime forces’ gunfire in As-Suwayda while participating in a demonstration near the Reconciliation Center in the city center on February 28, becoming the first demonstrator in As-Suwayda to be killed by regime forces.