[Today’s Prayer] 14th anniversary of Syrian uprising… first square rally since Assad’s Eviction

AFP and AP reported that a rally commemorating the 14th anniversary of the popular uprising was held in Syria on the 15th (local time) with thousands of people participating, after the Bashar al-Assad regime was ousted.

According to reports, citizens held rallies in major cities including Aleppo and Idlib, as well as in Umayyad Square in the capital Damascus, under the slogan, "Syria will win."

Citizens waved the new flag, which has a different color scheme and number of stars after former President Bashar al-Assad stepped down. Over Umayyad Square, military helicopters dropped leaflets with confetti and flowers that read, "There is no room for hatred between us."

Foreign media reported that the protests in Umayyad Square were the first since rebel forces ousted the Assad regime in December last year.

The rally was held to commemorate the democratic demonstrations that took place in Syria on March 15, 2011, riding the wave of the Arab Spring. At the time, the Assad regime's bloody suppression of the uprising began a 14-year civil war. The civil war ended with former President Assad fleeing to Russia to escape rebels after killing over 500,000 people.

The interim government formed by the rebels has declared that it will establish a normal state with support from the West, including by announcing a constitutional declaration that advocates separation of powers. However, the chaos has not completely subsided, with more than 1,000 people killed in recent armed clashes between Assad loyalists and the interim government.

Later that day, an explosion struck the Mediterranean coastal city of Latakia, killing three people and wounding 12, the state-run SANA news agency reported. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the accident occurred when residents tried to defuse an unexploded bomb.

Source: News

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37-38)

In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, rebel forces in Syria have been celebrating the 14th anniversary of the uprising that ousted Bashar al-Assad's bloody regime last December.

The Assad regime's 14-year civil war has claimed half a million Syrian victims, and to escape suffering and oppression, the Syrian people have continued to rally for democracy and freedom. However, there is still turmoil in the country, with armed clashes between Assad loyalists and the transitional government claiming over 1,000 lives.

We believe that only the cross, not physical force, will bring peace to Syria! We declare that it is God who will truly comfort and restore the suffering and pain of the Syrian people! Let the river of the gospel flow through the land of Syria, which thirsts for freedom, transforming it into a nation of priests who worship You with joy and praise!

May the Syrian people cease to be a nation of conflicts and enjoy peace through the love of the cross of Jesus Christ, the eternal life and savior!

Anoint the Syrian people as an army of the cross, praising You alone and following You toward Your vision!

As the Syrian and Arab churches pray with tears over the Syrian people, we believe that the Syrian people will rise up as the high priests of the Arabs bearing witness to the cross!

Lord, raise up a missionary revival in Syria as we follow your call to preach the Word for the evangelization of 2.1 billion Muslims!