First protest begins in tightly-secured city since Suwayda protests
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – The people of the city of Salkhad in the south of Suwayda Governorate, southern Syria, took to the streets on Wednesday in an anti-government protest for the first time since protests broke out in Suwayda.
A local source told North Press that large numbers of residents went out in an anti-government protest at the Salkhad city square.
The situation in the city of Salkhad is different than other areas due to the intensive security presence of the Syrian government forces, which prevented the locals from going out in protests.
Earlier, the residents received threats by individuals working with the government forces to prevent them from protesting.
Three days prior to the protest, the head of the Military Security Division in Salkhad threatened the locals with punishments in case they participated in any protests.
The source added that the youth of the village of Thaala and the surrounding villages in the western countryside of Suwayda went out in a protest in tandem with that in Salkhad.
A source from the village of al-Janina in the north of Suwayda told North Press people of the village along with others from villages near the city of Shahba gathered in al-Janina and called to “overthrow the regime” and implement UNSC Res. 2254.
Since Aug. 17, popular protests have been ongoing in southern Syria, demanding al-Assad to leave and implement UN Res. 2254 with a determination to continue until the demands are met.