Today, the Friday of National Unity was a big challenge for the Syrian regime. People were able to spoil the regime tricks to generate sectarian strife and attacking Homs with artillery shells to stop the demonstrations. The protestors focused on these two elements in today’s demonstrations in addition to the usual chant: people want to topple the regime.

This Friday as previous Fridays, witnessed falling of new martyrs. We confirmed 5 names until now in Hama, Homs, Aleppo suburbs, Damascus and Idlib fallen as a result to direct shooting on demonstrators and there are big numbers of injuries. In Hama, the martyr that dead today was injured on 5 of July.

In Deir Ezzor and Hama, hundreds of thousands went out to the streets protesting in Al Madlaji and Al Asi squares. In Homs and although many areas are besieged, people were able to gather in many areas such as Bab Houd and Al Bayada. Intermittent gunfire heard in many places.

Damascus Suburbs was very active today, from the besieged Zabadany, Douma to Tal, Saqba, Qudsaia, Madamia and Jdaidet Artoz. Also Arbeen, Nashabia, Shifonia demonstrated today for the first time.
Not all Damascus districts were able to demonstrate due to the widespread of security forces and army forces in the districts of Rukn-aldeen, Qaboun and their lanching operations of random arrests and search for activists. However, Meedan and Qadam districts witnessed huge demonstrations. Moreover, Similar arrests waves were carried out in other regions like Idlib, and Dael. Today the participation of Swaida and Aleppo in protesting has expanded while the security forces are trying to control the two cities by heavy gun fire
in many areas in Aleppo suburbs and by attacking worshippers in in Amina Mosque in Aleppo without any reason. Al-Qamishlee witnessed confrontation with security forces after one of the demonstration tried heading to the center of the city. Also, in Hasakeh where one of the tribal chiefs was arrested during a mass of arrests following demonstarations. The tribal chief who was arrested was also one of the protests organizers.
Daraa cities and villages resumed demonstrating defying the military occupation and despite the big number of martyrs and detained people since the start of the uprising

Damascus
Midan
The fashion designer Tareq Mashnouq, born 1980, was detained during a demonstration in Midan

Deraa
Nawa
A dense spread of security forces and army forces in town. Snipers and machine guns are set up on buildings and houses roofs. Besides forbidding prayers in mosques except for a few. Also, al-Muhammadi mosque which is the largest in town is encircled by security forces.

The people of Horan are protesting despite of hundreds of military vehicles and the harassment by the Shabiha.
The massive military presence remains in many of the towns in the municipality of Daraa, which still suffers from the tight siege.
In Nawa, there are more than 200 tanks, military trucks of the Zil brand, and troop carriers. It should be noted, that the population of Nawa does not exceed 200 thousand.
Over 80 tanks and troop carriers have been deployed to Jassem, with a population of about 50 thousand.
In Nemr, with a population of approximately 10 thousand, 20 tanks and troop carriers have been stationed as well as six missile launchers, aimed towards the town.
Hara has been transformed into military barracks, with more than 40 tanks and troop carriers as well as 8 missile launchers aimed towards the town with a population of about 20 thousand.
In Ankhal, over 50 tanks and troop carriers and a whole brigade of soldiers, the 16th brigade, with an estimated 6000 soldiers, have been stationed. Ankhal has a population of about 40 thousand.

Despite those facts, these towns continue to take the streets with huge demonstrations, defying the risks they are facing and the ongoing threats from the armed forces that are occupying their region, as well as the abuse by the Shabiha.