Syrians in Idlib celebrate

Under Qassem Soleimani’s instruction, pro-Syrian government forces besieged a number of rebel-held towns and cities, starving them into capitulation.

In the Idlib province, Syria's last opposition redoubt, Syrians displaced from those areas rejoiced upon learning of the Iranian's death and reflecting on the misery he brought them.

Burhan, a civilian who fled the city of Zabadani in the Damascus countryside, blamed Soleimani for the policy of displacing opponents to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad towards northern Syria.

“Soleimani and the militias supported by him are the main cause of all the military campaigns launched by Syrian government forces on the city of Zabadani and the adjacent city of Madaya,” Burhan, who requested that his real name not be used, told MEE's Harun al-Aswad.

“Had it not been for Iranian support, Damascus’ forces would have failed. Hezbollah was leading the battles on the ground while government aircraft were targeting the area with barrel bombs.”

Before fleeing to Idlib, Burhan was displaced to Madaya northwest of Damascus, where he lived under a gruelling siege imposed by Hezbollah.

“We ate cat meat during the siege and residents gave up their cars in exchange for a couple kilogrammes of rice,” he said. “Many died of starvation because of Soleimani and his militia.”

In Idlib on Friday, Syrians were celebrating their foe’s demise by handing out sweets.