Syrians hold pro-government demos in Damascus, Homs

People in Syria have held mass rallies to show their support for President Bashar al-Assad and the army. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the capital Damascus and its countryside on Saturday.

They expressed support for President Assad and the Syrian army forces in their fight against terrorism and foreign-backed militants. Pro-government demonstrations were also held in the western city of Homs and its countryside. On February 2, Syrians also took to the streets of Damascus and the town of Nabek in support of the government. Similar rallies have frequently been staged in the country during the past couple of years. The pro-government demonstrations came as 83 people, including children and women, were evacuated from Homs as part of a three-day ceasefire brokered by the UN between the Syrian army and the foreign-backed militants. The deal also allows the entrance of humanitarian assistance for civilians who choose to stay, while the two sides have also agreed on a pause in fighting as the deal is being implemented. Meanwhile, thousands of Syrians have returned home in the town of Muadamiyat al-Sham, located in Rif Dimashq Province near Damascus, following a ceasefire deal between the two sides of the conflict. Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. Some sources say more than 130,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by Western-backed militants.