Damascus, Feb 26 (NationPress) Waves of protests surged across southern Syria as a direct reaction to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent statements dismissing the role of Syria's interim government forces in the regions south of Damascus.

During a speech on Sunday, Netanyahu asserted that Israel "will not permit HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) forces or the new Syrian army to infiltrate the area south of Damascus."

He emphasized the necessity for the "complete demilitarisation of southern Syria," a statement that sparked widespread outrage throughout the nation, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.

Demonstrations erupted in various Syrian cities, including Sweida, Daraa, Damascus, and Quneitra. In Damascus, crowds gathered outside the United Nations office, urging an international response to Netanyahu's "provocative remarks."

Khair Ghazali, a Syrian national, highlighted the collective rejection by the Syrian people against Israeli infringements on Syria's sovereignty.

"We stand here in front of the United Nations (office) to convey a message of disapproval toward Netanyahu's statements. As Syrians, we are united across all regions, sharing common struggles and goals. We possess the strength to resolve our issues independently, without foreign intervention," he stated.

Echoing this sentiment, Syrian author Rami Kousa underscored the importance of national sovereignty, asserting that it is the duty of the Syrian populace to resist any efforts to compromise the country's sovereignty, "whether from Israel or any other nation attempting to assert an occupation-like presence."

In Sweida, hundreds gathered in the city center, brandishing Syrian flags and denouncing Netanyahu's comments. Protester Hiba Twair declared that Netanyahu's remarks merely reflect his personal agenda, not that of the Syrian populace.

"Netanyahu's assertions represent solely himself. Every part of Syria, be it the north, east, or south, rightfully belongs to Syria alone. We reject any identity other than our Syrian identity," Twair affirmed.

Firas Al-Haqbani, another demonstrator from Sweida, reiterated his disapproval of Israeli demands. "These statements are entirely unacceptable. Jabal al-Arab, Hauran Plain, and Quneitra are inhabited by Syrians whose allegiance is to Syria and Syria only," he stated.

The protests are taking place against the backdrop of escalating Israeli military operations in southern Syria, with reports indicating an increased presence of Israeli forces near the border. This situation has heightened fears of further escalation as Syria's interim government seeks to strengthen its control over its territories.

In the concluding statement of the one-day Syrian National Dialogue Conference on Tuesday, the interim government reaffirmed Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty, rejecting any form of partition, and condemned the presence of Israeli forces in Syrian territory as a breach of sovereignty, demanding their immediate and unconditional withdrawal.