Syria’s Masyaf witnesses security reinforcement, fires in response to protests
HAMA, Syria (North Press) – On Friday, military vehicles loaded with soldiers and members of government security branches arrived in the city of Masyaf, in the western countryside of Hama, central Syria. Fires broke out in the surrounding villages two days after protests over the living and service conditions in the city.
Residents accused pro-government members of setting fire to forests as a punishment to the people.
On Thursday, Masyaf witnessed public protests, for the first time in the city, under the slogan “We want to live”.
Residents gathered near al-Waraqa Roundabout in the city center calling on the government to secure living basics.
Meanwhile, an eyewitness indicated that dozens of protesters gathered “after the municipality demolished residential buildings.”
“Protesters raised slogans calling on the government to secure water and electricity, in addition to taking care of them as Alawites of the Syrian coast,” he told North Press.
Following clashes between the protesters and members of security apparatuses, the Hama governor intervened and called on the protesters to “calm down and form a delegation in order to be sent to the governorate to have their demands fulfilled,” local sources said.
However, fires that broke out at midnight burnt more than five acres of forests in Kfar Laha and Ain al-Khanzir, west of Masyaf.
Despite extinguishing the fires on Friday morning, they broke out again in the afternoon.