Hundreds of Syrians staged protests across multiple cities on Friday to condemn Israeli military incursions in the country’s south, including a recent raid that resulted in the death of a man with a disability. Demonstrations took place in Damascus, Homs, and the southern provinces of Quneitra and Daraa, with participants carrying Syrian flags and posters bearing slogans such as “We are all Moaz,” referring to the man killed during the Israeli operation in Daraa.

Since December 2024, following the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad and the rise of Islamist authorities, Israel has increased its military activity in Syria. This includes numerous airstrikes and ground incursions aimed at what Israel describes as security threats. Israeli forces have also entered a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights, which has separated Israeli and Syrian troops since 1974.

Protesters voiced a unified message opposing Israel’s actions. Taysir al-Hariri, one of the demonstrators, stated that they were sending a message to the world that Syria stands united against incursions and any attempts to undermine national security.

Syrian state media and officials have accused Israel of repeated violations of the 1974 disengagement agreement by conducting cross-border raids, shelling, and seizing dozens of residents in southern Syria. On Friday, Syrian media reported that Israeli forces advanced in parts of Quneitra province and blocked several roads. Outside a United Nations building in Damascus, the family of a Syrian man seized by Israeli forces called for his release, with children holding posters reading “I want my dad.”

Israel has said it will maintain troops in a so-called security zone in southern Syria, seeking the establishment of a broader demilitarized area there. While Syria and Israel have engaged in negotiations aimed at reaching a security agreement, Israel reportedly remains wary of Syria’s current Islamist-led authorities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Syria condemned the killing of the disabled man, underscoring the broader tension and instability stemming from the ongoing Israeli military presence and operations in southern Syria.