Syrian protests (March–April 2016)

4 March 2016

Due to the partial ceasefire, on 4 March 2016 there were anti-government protests in more than 104 locations throughout Syria, particularly in rebel-held territories in Azaz, Aleppo, Idlib, Ghouta, and Daraa.^[6] The protesters waved Syrian independence flags and banners showing pro-revolutionary slogans such as "The revolution continues". The protests at the town of Maarrat al-Nu'man in Idlib Governorate were joined by several Free Syrian Army commanders, including Ahmad al-Saud of the 13th Division based in the town.^[7]

Idlib

On 7 March, anti-government protesters marched in the city of Idlib waving both the Syrian independence and white Shahada flags. Due to the presence of the independence flags, armed men from the Army of Conquest, which control the city, consisting of al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa dispersed the protests and threatened to open fire on the protesters.

The gunmen smashed cameras, confiscated flags, and arrested 10 of the protesters. Ahrar ash-Sham, another group in the Army, denounced the crackdown and stated that the masked men were not acting on behalf of the JaF.^[8]

Maarrat al-Nu'man

On 11 March 2016 around 200 protesters in Maarrat al-Nu'man in Idlib Governorate waved revolutionary flags and shouted slogans against Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government. Members of the al-Nusra Front then arrived on motorcycles and waved the Black Standard, shouting the takbir on the speakers, dispersing the protesters.^[9]

On 12 March the 13th Division reportedly raided the al-Nusra headquarter in Maarrat al-Nu'man, and in response Nusra attacked the division's headquarters and its weapons depots, capturing small arms, ammunition, and, reportedly, BGM-71 TOW missiles, though the FSA denied it^[10]

Since then, hundreds of protesters rallied against al-Qaeda in the town for more than three consecutive days. Some of the protesters torched Nusra buildings, while another group stormed into a Nusra-held building and freed some prisoners.^[11][12] As of 4 April 2016, the residents of Maarrat al-Nu'man have protested against al-Nusra for over 24 days.^[13]

By late June 2016, the protests against the al-Nusra Front in Maarat al-Nu'man have surpassed 100 days. As a result, al-Nusra released most of the arrested protesters and withdrew from the town center, remaining in 2 checkpoints in the outskirts. Al-Nusra continued to operate in the town through proxies in the Army of Conquest, and protests continued.^[4]

Qamishli

On 12 March Syrian Kurds commemorated the 12th anniversary of the 2004 Qamishli riots in Qamishli, al-Hasakah. Protesters supporting the Kurdish National Council marched on the streets waving the flag of Kurdistan and the flag of the KDP, while PYD supporters waved the flag of Rojava, the PYD, and the YPG. The Kurds also held a football match in the city.^[14]

As-Suwayda

In the city of as-Suwayda on 17 April, the 70th anniversary of the end of the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, mainly Druze protesters gathered in the streets and protested against the Syrian government, Iran, Russia, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The protesters raised photos of Sultan al-Atrash and other historical figures and spray-painted over Ba'athist symbols.^[15]

Protests in the city continued on 21 April, when protesters continued the "You Broke Us" campaign and shouted slogans against the Syrian government. Hundreds of government supporters then organized a counter-protest and the Shabiha attempted to break up the pro-opposition protests.^[16]