Syria
A handout picture released by the Suwayda 24 news site shows people protesting in the southern Syrian city of Sweida on February 28, 2024. Photo: Suwayda24/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syrian government forces on Wednesday killed a protestor in the regime-held southern city of Suwayda, marking the first death in anti-government protests that have shaken the city for six months, a war monitor reported.
“A 54-year-old citizen was struck today by a bullet to the chest while he was with the demonstrators near the Seventh of April Hall, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor.
Protests over poor living conditions have swept the Druze-majority city of Suwayda since August 20, driven by a surge in prices after the government decided to lift fuel subsidies. The demonstrators have called for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Local media outlet Suwayda24 also confirmed that the citizen was killed by security forces in the demonstrations, identifying him as Jawad al-Barouki.
Religious leaders in the province urged protestors and regime forces to keep the demonstrations peaceful following Barouki’s killing.
The protests have grown in recent months, with Bedouin tribes and residents of regime-held Daraa province also joining.
Syrians rose up against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, leading to a full-scale civil war that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Syrian people and has left millions more in need of humanitarian assistance.
Largely assisted by Russian air attacks and Iranian support, Assad restored control over most of the country after 12 years of war killed half a million people and displaced almost half of the Syrian population.
Last February's disastrous earthquake, which rocked both Syria and Turkey killing tens of thousands, was a catalyst for Saudi-led efforts to normalize relations with Assad, culminating in Arab states readmitting Syria into the Arab League after a 12 year hiatus.
“A 54-year-old citizen was struck today by a bullet to the chest while he was with the demonstrators near the Seventh of April Hall, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor.
Protests over poor living conditions have swept the Druze-majority city of Suwayda since August 20, driven by a surge in prices after the government decided to lift fuel subsidies. The demonstrators have called for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Local media outlet Suwayda24 also confirmed that the citizen was killed by security forces in the demonstrations, identifying him as Jawad al-Barouki.
Religious leaders in the province urged protestors and regime forces to keep the demonstrations peaceful following Barouki’s killing.
The protests have grown in recent months, with Bedouin tribes and residents of regime-held Daraa province also joining.
Syrians rose up against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, leading to a full-scale civil war that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Syrian people and has left millions more in need of humanitarian assistance.
Largely assisted by Russian air attacks and Iranian support, Assad restored control over most of the country after 12 years of war killed half a million people and displaced almost half of the Syrian population.
Last February's disastrous earthquake, which rocked both Syria and Turkey killing tens of thousands, was a catalyst for Saudi-led efforts to normalize relations with Assad, culminating in Arab states readmitting Syria into the Arab League after a 12 year hiatus.
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