Syrians March Nationwide After Troops Expand Control in Quneitra

Crowds filled streets in Damascus, Homs, and Daraa on Friday to protest Israeli military operations in southern Syria. The demonstrations followed a series of incursions that escalated tensions between the two nations earlier this week.

State media confirmed that the rallies targeted attacks in the Quneitra and Daraa provinces. In Daraa, an AFP correspondent observed hundreds of demonstrators waving national flags. Taysir al-Hariri, a protest participant, told the agency the crowds aimed to "send a message to the world" that Syria remains united against incursions and threats to national security.

The death of Moaz, a man with a disability, served as a focal point for the rallies. State television broadcast footage of marchers holding posters with the slogan "We are all Moaz." Syrian officials stated that Israeli fire killed Moaz a day prior during an operation in Daraa province.

In Damascus, the family of a man detained by Israel gathered outside a United Nations building to request his release. Their children held signs that read "I want my dad," adding a personal dimension to the political demands.

Israeli forces advanced into parts of Quneitra province on Friday and blocked several roads. Troops in the area bulldozed olive groves, established checkpoints, and detained local residents. This expansion follows a pattern of activity since the new Syrian government assumed power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes and frequent incursions since taking control of a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights. The military maintains it requires a security zone in southern Syria and continues to seek a larger demilitarized area.