Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday dismissed proposals for separation or federalism, insisting that the country’s coastal region remains a top priority for his government.
"We are focused on protecting the country from internal and external risks and on economic development,” al-Sharaa told a meeting in Latakia via video conference.
Protests erupted in several cities and towns in Latakia, Hama, Deir el-Zour, and Quneitra on Tuesday in a show of support for Syria’s unity and territorial integrity following calls for federalism in the country.
The protests came one day after two security officers and several civilians were injured by gunfire from a neighborhood inhabited by officers linked to the former regime of Bashar Assad.
Al-Sharaa described calls for separation or federalism as "an expression of political ignorance” and serving narrow interests.
