Thousands of people in northwest Syria demonstrated against the government of ruler Bashar Al-Assad on the anniversary of the outbreak of war in the country. Around 5,000 protesters gathered in Idlib today. They demanded freedom for Syria and the overthrow of the Assad regime. “We are here to show this corrupt regime that we are still here and that we will continue until our death,” one of the participants told the German Press Agency. Another protester said: “The world has left us alone. We are here to show that we will continue until we overthrow the tyrant Al-Assad.”
There were also demonstrations in other cities. In Asas in the north of the country, thousands of people gathered to protest after Friday prayers. They demanded the implementation of the revolution’s former goals, said one of the dpa participants. This includes overthrowing the Syrian “regime” and building a democratic state. They also demanded clarification about the fate of the many prisoners in government prisons.
The conflict in Syria began in mid-March 2011 with protests against the government of President Bashar Al-Assad. Security forces responded with violence. Everything ultimately resulted in a civil war with international participation.
Today the country is divided. With the help of his allies Russia, Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, Assad now controls two-thirds of the country again. The northwest is under the control of opposition forces. There is no political solution to the conflict in sight. According to United Nations estimates, more than 300,000 people have died in the war so far.
