Thousands Rally in Syria's Idlib to Mark 10 Years since Uprising

In Idlib province's main city, crowds marched waving the opposition's three-star flag or holding up images of those killed during the Syria's conflict. (AFP)
In Idlib province's main city, crowds marched waving the opposition's three-star flag or holding up images of those killed during the Syria's conflict. (AFP)
TT

Thousands Rally in Syria's Idlib to Mark 10 Years since Uprising

In Idlib province's main city, crowds marched waving the opposition's three-star flag or holding up images of those killed during the Syria's conflict. (AFP)
In Idlib province's main city, crowds marched waving the opposition's three-star flag or holding up images of those killed during the Syria's conflict. (AFP)

Thousands took to the streets in Syria's last major opposition bastion of Idlib Monday to mark 10 years since the nationwide anti-government protests that sparked the country's devastating civil war.

Crowds marched through the extremist-dominated stronghold's main city, with some protesters waving the opposition's three-star flag or holding up images of those killed during the conflict.

"Freedom, freedom," they sang in Idlib city, just as the first protesters did in 2011 at rallies demanding an end to President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

"The people want the fall of the regime," they shouted, echoing the slogan adopted by protesters elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa in the spring of 2011.

"We came to renew the pledge we made in 2011 when we decided to oust Assad," said one of those marching, Hana Dahneen.

"We had hoped to topple the regime from day one," she added.

"But it unleashed all kinds of weapons against the innocent people to crush the revolution."

Syria's war has killed more than 388,000 people and displaced millions of Syrians inside the country and abroad.

But today, Assad is back in control of more than 60 percent of the country after a string of Russia-backed victories against the opposition and extremists.

A decade on, Assad looks set to win a new presidential election this summer in regime-held areas.

'Suffering and pain'
Idlib, whose 2.9 million inhabitants have been protected by a ceasefire since March 2020, is one of the few key areas still holding out against the Damascus government.

It was a protest hub in 2011 and it officially came under full opposition control some four years later.

A Russian-backed regime offensive in 2019 saw the Syrian government retake more than half the province.

Areas that remain outside its control are dominated by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which is led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate.

Despite the regime victories, protesters on Monday were defiant.

"We will remain committed to our... revolution even if it takes 50 years," Dahneen said.

Yaman, a 30-year-old protestor echoed a similar sentiment.

"We couldn't change much in the past 10 years, and this is painful, but we can't but continue on the path we have started, because Syria needs change," he said.

"It is an existential issue."

Around him, protesters carried signs condemning the inaction of the international community.

"A decade of disappointment," read one banner.

Yahya, a 28-year-old demonstrator, said he would press on with his activism "until the regime is toppled and its leaders are tried in international courts".

As the conflict entered its 11th year, the head of the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR looked back on what he said was "one of the largest refugee crises in modern times".

"Ten years of the Syrian crisis have inflicted unimaginable human suffering and pain," UNHCR head Filippo Grandi said in a statement on Friday.

"The world has failed Syrians," he added, while acknowledging the huge efforts made to accommodate Syrian refugees.

The war has displaced some 6.7 million people inside Syria, with almost 5.6 million Syrians fleeing abroad, mostly to neighboring countries, according to UN figures.

Endless rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to stem the bloodshed, and have in recent years been overshadowed by a parallel negotiations track led by Moscow and rebel backer Ankara.



Grundberg Concludes Visit to Sanaa, Urges Houthis to Deescalate Tensions, Release Detainees

Grundberg arrives at Sanaa airport, Yemen (AFP)
Grundberg arrives at Sanaa airport, Yemen (AFP)
TT

Grundberg Concludes Visit to Sanaa, Urges Houthis to Deescalate Tensions, Release Detainees

Grundberg arrives at Sanaa airport, Yemen (AFP)
Grundberg arrives at Sanaa airport, Yemen (AFP)

The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, urged on Thursday Houthi leaders to reduce national and regional escalation and release the detained UN staff and other humanitarian personnel.
The envoy stressed his determination to safeguard the progress made to date on the peace roadmap, which has been frozen since Houthis have stepped up their attacks against shipping routes in the Red Sea corridor.
Grundberg’s comments came on Thursday as he concluded a visit to Sanaa, his first to the Yemeni capital since May 2023.
The visit comes amid hopes that his efforts would prepare the ground for concrete actions for advancing the peace process in the country.
In a statement, Grundberg said he held discussions with senior political and military officials to renew engagement on the political process, focusing on addressing challenges and exploring possibilities for advancing peace within the region’s complex context.
During his meetings with Houthi leaders, the special envoy stressed the importance of national and regional de-escalation to foster an environment conducive to dialogue.
He urged the need for concrete actions to pave the way forward for a political process to achieve sustainable peace and stability across Yemen.
Grundberg’s discussions also highlighted the importance of taking steps to address economic challenges and improve living conditions, while simultaneously advancing preparations for a ceasefire – critical components of the road map and reaching a political resolution that meets the aspirations of Yemenis.
“I am determined to safeguard the progress made to date on the roadmap and keep focus on the prospects for peace in Yemen,” Grundberg noted.
Discussions on the conflict-related detainees file built on the progress made during negotiations held in Oman in July 2024.
The envoy emphasized that the file is vital for confidence building between the parties and advancing previous commitments.
He then underscored the importance of prioritizing this humanitarian issue as a step toward fostering trust that can help enable broader agreements and signal commitment to the peace process.
Protection of Civil Society
The Special Envoy started his visit to Sanaa at the home of the family of his colleague who has been arbitrarily detained by Houthis since June 2024.
He expressed his deepest compassion for what they have been enduring during this difficult period and offered his support, a statement by his office said.
Grundberg then updated the family on the UN efforts to secure the release of all arbitrarily detained personnel.
He also expressed solidarity with the families of the other detainees, acknowledging their shared anguish and the urgent need for their loved ones' release.
In all his discussions, the envoy strongly urged Houthis to release immediately and unconditionally the detained personnel from the UN, NGOs, civil society, and diplomatic missions.
Grundberg then echoed the Secretary General’s message that the arbitrary detentions are unacceptable and constitute a violation of international law.
“We must protect the role of civil society and humanitarian personnel. They make vital contributions to peace and rebuilding Yemen,” stated the Special Envoy.
Grundberg arrived in Yemen after holding talks with Omani officials in Muscat. Present at the talks was Houthi spokesman and chief negotiator Mohammed Abdelsalam.
The envoy is hoping to make a breakthrough in the Yemeni crisis after his efforts stalled with the Houthis launching their attacks on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping routes.
The Visit’s Agenda
Grundberg, a Swedish diplomat, is in Sanaa as part of his efforts to push the Houthis to take concrete actions for advancing the peace process.
He will also be pushing for the release of the arbitrarily detained UN personnel and also from other NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions.
The envoy said he plans to conduct a series of national and regional meetings in the coming days under his mediation efforts.