User:Bobfrombrockley/Southern Syria protests 2023

On 10 August, activists in Syria announced the formation of the 10th of August movement and a renewal of civil resistance to the government. On 17 August, a general strike was called in the predominantly Druze governorate of As-Suwayda in Syria's south. On 18 August, protests broke out across neighbouring Daraa Governorate. Protests continued into the next week, which saw the tenth anniversary of the 2013 Ghouta chemical attack. Protests took place in the capital and were some of the largest in some years.

Background

Main articles: Daraa insurgency and 2021 Daraa offensive

Map of reconciliation areas in Daraa governorate, from July 2018-late February 2020

Daraa had been one of the main starting places of the 2011 civil uprising phase of the Syrian civil war, and largely under rebel/Free Syrian Army control from 2012. Following the 2018 offensive that brought Daraa and Quneitra under control of the Syrian Arab Army, many rebels forces in the area signed Russian-brokered reconciliation deals, in which they laid down their weapons against the Syrian Army. The rebels also handed over their heavy weapons. Most rebels stayed behind, and continued to control various areas in the province, as well as the Al-Balad subdistrict of the city of Daraa. Those who didn't agree to the terms were sent to rebel held areas in Idlib Governorate by bus. However, due to several factors, Daraa became unstable following the conflict. Tensions arose between the Syrian government and the reconciled rebels. Conditions in the province were poor. Most people in Daraa live below the poverty line, the poor financial situation has led to high unemployment, especially among youth. Basic services are in terrible condition, due in part to damage from fighting. Economic downturn and lack of security gave rise to crime and tribal justice, fueling the security chaos. In addition, forced conscription and arrests fueled anger against the Syrian government. The 2021 Daraa offensive saw renewed military fighting between armed locals and the SAA, eventually leading to a truce and fragile government control, but unrest has continued since.

As-Suwayda, in contrast, had been relatively peaceful in the civil war period. According to one analyst in 2018,

The majority of al-Suwayda residents are Druze, an esoteric religious group that has roughly one million adherents worldwide. Some locals are loyal to Damascus [the seat of government], others are sympathetic to the Syrian revolution, and a third category are neutral or avoid politics, but all are united in their opposition to allowing the war into their province.

By 2023, the economy of Syria was in poor shape, exacerbated by hyperinflation, corruption and international sanctions. The cost of living had become untenable for many households by the summer. The Syrian currency reached an unprecedented low of 15,000 Syrian pounds per US dollar on 15 August, down from 7,000 at the start of the year. The United Nations reported that 90% cent of the country's population lives in poverty, and that more than half is food insecure. The government doubled public sector salaries, but increased fuel prices and had been reducing subsidies for necessities, such as heating and cooking fuel.

General strike and protests

A general strike was declared in Suweida on Thursday 17 August. Hundreds of protesters chanted anti-government slogans.

In Daraa province, some villages participated in the strikes, with demonstrators raising the Syrian revolutionary flag and chanting, "Bashar … Go! We want to live!"

On Friday 18 August, there were demonstrations across southern Syria after Friday prayer. In many places, protests took the form of holding up and photographing slips of paper with anti-government slogans in front of iconic locations.