Syrians March After Moaz's Death

Syria’s new government faces rising pressure from its citizens as it manages its border with Israel. Protesters gathered in Damascus, Homs, and Daraa on Friday to oppose recent military operations in the south.

A central grievance was the death of Moaz, a man with special needs. State media reported that Israeli fire killed him during an incursion in Daraa province on Thursday. Footage from state television showed marchers carrying posters that read "We are all Moaz," linking the individual loss to the wider conflict.

Israeli forces also expanded their ground presence in Quneitra province on Friday. According to state reports, troops advanced into parts of the region, blocking several roads. They bulldozed olive groves, established checkpoints, and detained local residents. The military has conducted hundreds of strikes and frequent incursions since the new government took power in December 2024.

In Daraa, an AFP correspondent observed hundreds of demonstrators, some waving Syrian flags. Taysir al-Hariri, a protester, told the agency that the crowd aimed to "send a message to the world" that Syria stands united "against Israeli incursions and against anyone who is tempted to tamper. with national security."

Outside a United Nations building in Damascus, the family of a man seized by Israel demanded his release. Children held posters with the words "I want my dad." Israel maintains that it will keep troops in a security zone in southern Syria while seeking a broader demilitarized area. Troops also entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone that has separated the two sides since 1974.