Protests Continue in Northern Syria against Normalization Efforts between Ankara, Damascus

A protest against normalization between Ankara and Damascus is seen in Afrin. (X platform)
A protest against normalization between Ankara and Damascus is seen in Afrin. (X platform)
TT

Protests Continue in Northern Syria against Normalization Efforts between Ankara, Damascus

A protest against normalization between Ankara and Damascus is seen in Afrin. (X platform)
A protest against normalization between Ankara and Damascus is seen in Afrin. (X platform)

Protests continued on Friday against normalization efforts between Ankara and Damascus in Turkish-held regions in northern Syria.

A huge protest was held in Afrin against the normalization with demands that military decision-making in the anti-regime revolution be removed from Ankara’s control.

Rallies had broken out overnight on Thursday in areas held by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group in the Idlib countryside.

The demonstrators protested against attacks by pro-Türkiye military police against rallies that were held in the Peace Spring Operation areas in Afrin.

The police had fired live rounds and tear gas to disperse the protesters in Afrin.

The people had taken to the streets on Thursday to demand the release of 18 demonstrators who were arrested during protests against normalization.

Protests also broke out in regions of Türkiye's Operation Olive Branch. They demanded an end to Ankara’s control of the revolt and opening new fronts to combat the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Türkiye is keen implementing an agreement reached with Russia to open trade routes with Syria, which has also angered protesters because it is seen as another move to normalize ties with Damascus.

On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan declared that discussions are ongoing over normalization.

Türkiye is ready for a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Assad, he added.

The time and place of the meeting have not been set yet.

He made his remarks shortly after a round of discussions held between Turkish officials with an American delegation in Türkiye.

The talks focused on reaching a political solution to the crisis in Syria in line with United Nations Security Council resolution 2254.



Israeli Forces Surround Lebanon’s Khiam Ahead of Storming it

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
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Israeli Forces Surround Lebanon’s Khiam Ahead of Storming it

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)

Israeli forces have blocked supply routes to the southern Lebanese border city of al-Khiam ahead of storming it.

They have also surrounded the strategic city with Hezbollah fighters still inside, launching artillery and air attacks against them.

Hezbollah fighters have been holding out in Khiam for 25 days. The capture of the city would be significant and allow Israeli forces easier passage into southern Lebanon.

Field sources said Israeli forces have already entered some neighborhoods of Khiam from its eastern and southern outskirts, expanding their incursion into its northern and eastern sectors to fully capture the city.

They cast doubt on claims that the city has been fully captured, saying fighting is still taking place deeper inside its streets and alleys, citing the ongoing artillery fire and drone and air raids.

Israel has already cut off Hezbollah’s supply routes by seizing control of Bourj al-Mamlouk, Tall al-Nahas and olive groves in al-Qlaa in the Marayoun region. Its forces have also fanned out to the west towards the Litani River.

The troops have set up a “line of fire” spanning at least seven kms around Khiam to deter anti-tank attacks from Hezbollah and to launch artillery, drone and aerial attacks, said the sources.

The intense pressure has forced Hezbollah to resort to suicide drone attacks against Israeli forces.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar television said Israeli forces tried to carry out a new incursion towards Khiam’s northern neighborhoods.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that since Friday night, Israeli forces have been using “all forms of weapons in their attempt to capture Khiam, which Israel views as a strategic gateway through which it can make rapid ground advances.”

It reported an increase in air and artillery attacks in the past two days as the forces try to storm the city.

The troops are trying to advance on Khiam by first surrounding it from all sides under air cover, it continued.

They are also booby-trapping some homes and buildings and then destroying them, similar to what they have done in other southern towns, such as Adeisseh, Yaround, Aitaroun and Mais al-Jabal.

Khiam holds symbolic significance to the Lebanese people because it was the first city liberated following Israel’s implementation of United Nations Security Council 425 on May 25, 2000, that led to its withdrawal from the South in a day that Hezbollah has since declared Liberation Day.