Syrians mark 13th anniversary of the uprising in Idlib – in pictures

Demonstrators gather to demand the removal of President Bashar Al Assad and a change to Hayat Tahrir's policies

Syrians demonstrate in Binnish, in Idlib province, on the 13th anniversary of the country's revolution as they demand the departure of President Bashar Al Assad and Abu Muhammad Al Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham. All photos: Moawia Atrash for the National

The demonstrators have also called for a change in the policies of Hayat Tahrir, a rebel formation set up by Al Nusra Front in 2017 after the group formally broke off from Al Qaeda

Syria remains fragmented 13 years after the start of the revolution, with the regime controlling about 70 per cent of the country

Hundreds of Syrians gather near Clock Square in Idlib. Outright fighting between the government and opposition groups has dropped in intensity, the conflict is far from over

An entrenched war economy, deep societal rifts, amalgamations of militias, as well as zones belonging to Iran, Russia, Turkey and the US compound any effort at stabilisation

Rebel brigades, including Hayat Tahrir, control large parts of Idlib

Ahmed Al Ali, left, said 'today, we came to the squares to renew our pledge once again and to affirm the overthrow of the Syrian regime and that the oppressors cannot rule us'

Shada Barakat told The National that one of her children was detained by the Assad regime while her husband had 'died due to oppression, and I am demonstrating here until I feel that I can do something to take revenge on this regime'

Millions of people have fled the country due to the conflict, and a war economy based on narcotics and other illicit trade has taken hold

The Syrian National Army, a Turkish proxy, controls territory in Aleppo, while the SDF, backed by the US, controls much of north-eastern and eastern Syria

For the past seven months, peaceful demonstrations demanding the removal of the president have been occurring in Suweida province, where Druze militias have kept pro-regime forces in check

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