With the various Christian denominations in Syria beginning their preparations for Christmas and New Year's celebrations, internal security forces carried out a significant deployment across the country.
Troops were deployed in the capital, Damascus, especially in the neighborhoods of Bab Sharqi and Bab Touma, as Christmas trees and holiday markets went up.
The operations began Saturday evening with the closure of certain roads and the prohibition of vehicle access to crowded streets surrounding churches, under heightened security measures.
Security challenges facing Syrian authorities remain numerous, prompting them this year to show particular concern for maintaining order in places of celebration and public gatherings in general, and religious ones in particular.
This has been clearly reflected in cities and towns hosting festivities, like in the city of Homs and its surroundings, the localities of the Syrian coast, the governorate of Hama, as well as all regions that had previously witnessed incidents of sectarian violence.
