A mass demonstration in southern Syria saw thousands of Druze – alongside local Christians – waving Druze flags and Israeli flags while calling for independence and separation from the Islamist government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Protesters chanted “We want independence” and demanded the return of what they described as occupied villages, as well as the release of Druze captives. Footage from the ground shows large crowds filling the streets of Shahba, with speakers denouncing what they called a “Daesh-style government” in Damascus and insisting on self-rule and security guarantees for their communities.
The rally highlights growing unrest in Druze-majority areas amid ongoing instability in Syria. The public display of Israeli flags was particularly striking, signaling both defiance toward Damascus and a search for alternative alliances in a region increasingly shaped by sectarian tensions and shifting power balances.
NEWSRAEL: WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT