Under the explicit directive of Ahmed al-Shar’, the head of the de facto authority in Syria, rallies spread across most provinces under his control, including Damascus, Daraa, Idlib, and other cities. These demonstrations, which emerged to celebrate the anniversary of the so-called “Operation to Repel Aggression,” were framed under slogans of national unity and the rejection of partition schemes. However, the reality on the ground told a completely different story—one of forced participation, blatant sectarian incitement, and a dubious manipulation of public sentiment.
In Damascus:
The Syrian capital witnessed a contradictory scene. While some protesters burned the Israeli flag in response to recent Israeli military operations in the Beit Jen area, which targeted individuals involved with Hamas, sectarian chants against Alawites and Druze rose up, such as: “Oh Alawite, caw, caw, Ahmed al-Shar’ remains,” and “He who doesn’t participate, his mother is an Alawite.”
In Homs:
At the famous Clock Tower square, protesters attempted to present a nationalistic image with chants like, “Oh Zionist, listen, listen, the Syrian people will not kneel.” Yet, simultaneously, they continued their habitual abuse and insults against members of the Alawite community, unveiling the true sectarian agenda underlying these rallies.
The cities of Daraa and Idlib were not immune to these scenes, where the same demeaning, sectarian slogans against minorities were repeated. This confirms the existence of an organized plan to transform the country into a hotbed of sectarian sedition.
These chants do not come from a movement seeking national cohesion. They are the language of sectarian purification, openly threatening minority groups and reducing the complex fabric of Syrian society to a dangerous “us versus them” dichotomy.
Perhaps the most damning evidence against the authenticity of these rallies comes from the numerous messages received from within these regions. Civilians reported being forced to participate, confirming that their presence was not a matter of choice but of coercion. Although these testimonies cannot be published in full to protect the safety of their senders, their very existence stands as powerful testament that a broad segment of Syrians, including many from the Sunni community, reject this sectarian path and do not want to see the country turned into a hotbed of hatred and incitement.
The juxtaposition here is both tragic and revealing: the public burning of a foreign flag while simultaneously unleashing venom against Syrians themselves. This proves that the slogan of “national unity” is merely a cynical tool. The real goal is to entrench a divisive, sectarian agenda, compelling the population—through intimidation and direct threats—to endorse a vision for Syria that many of its own people explicitly reject. This pretense does not demonstrate unity; rather, it exposes the deep fractures and the climate of fear fostered by the forces of the “de facto authority,” proving that their true colors are painted not with national pride, but with the harsh brushstrokes of sectarian animosity.