Thousands Mark 11th Anniversary of Syrian Uprising in Idlib
Thousands of Syrians marched through the streets of the northwestern city of Idlib to mark the 11th anniversary of the Syrian revolution, part of the wider Arab Spring. The uprising also led to the ongoing civil war in Syria between the regime of authoritarian Syrian President and opposition rebels.
Idlib and parts of Aleppo province are the only areas in Syria to be held by the Syrian opposition
Since the uprising against President Bashar Al-Assad began, an estimated 500,000 people have been killed and over 5 million Syrians have become refugees, as well as another six million Syrians who have become internally displaced in the fighting.
Meanwhile, Russia is currently recruiting thousands of fighters in Syria, from the regular army and from militia groups.
“Today marks 11 years since the Syrian people courageously and peacefully took to the streets to demand freedom, political reform, and a government that respects and upholds human rights. The Assad regime met those demands with a brutal assault that continues today against the Syrian people. After 11 years of death and suffering, it is past time for the regime and its enablers, including Russia and Iran, to halt their ruthless attack on the Syrian people. The coincidence of this year’s anniversary with the appalling Russian aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a breach of exceptional gravity to international law and the UN Charter, highlights Russia’s brutal and destructive behavior in both conflicts. After more than a decade of conflict, the Syrian economic and humanitarian situation is bleak and millions of Syrian refugees hosted generously by Syria’s neighbors, as well as those internally displaced, cannot yet return home in line with UN standards, and without fear of violence, arbitrary arrest, and torture. Continued conflict has also led to space for terrorists, particularly Daesh (ISIS), to exploit. Preventing Daesh’s resurgence remains a priority,” France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
