Since the first news of protests emerged from Syria in March, EXECUTIVE has followed the impacts of the upheaval, which have spread across the border into Lebanon. From refugees fleeing the conflict, to protests both supporting and deriding the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, the uprising next door is a Lebanese reality as well
1) A pro-regime demonstrator displays his allegiance outside the Syrian embassy in Beirut by means of rough tattoos depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and his elder brother Bassel, who died in 1994
2) A candle-light vigil in Martyrs’ Square is held to show solidarity with the people of Syria
3) Leftist Assembly for Change activist Farah Koubaissy leads an anti-regime rally in downtown Beirut
4) After violent attacks on anti-regime protesters in West Beirut in early August, in which people carrying cameras were actively targeted, pro-Assad demonstrations took on a somewhat more ‘media-friendly’ approach
5) A soldier watches over a small anti-regime protest in downtown Beirut
6) An anti-regime demonstrator holds a sign, which reads ‘Bashar should Fall’ at a rally in Martyrs’ Square, Beirut
7) A Syrian family prepares dinner at a refugee station set up in a school in Lebanon’s northern region of Wadi Khaled The family fled from the Syrian border town of Tell Kalakh, where Amnesty International reported “a devastating security operation” in which “scores of men were arbitrarily arrested, tortured and at least nine died in custody”
8) Syrian workers gather in support of their president outside the Syrian embassy in Beirut
9) After being smuggled across the border, Syrian cyber-dissident Rami Nakhle spent some nine months in Lebanon coordinating efforts to disseminate reports and footage taken by activists within Syria. He fled to America after a tip-off that it was no longer safe for him in Beirut and is now a member of the opposition Syrian National Council
10) A Baath Party member who was coordinating a pro-Assad demonstration outside the Syrian embassy in Beirut shows off a lapel pin displaying the president’s image
12) Mohammed Khoder Waloum displays scars he says were caused by Syrian security services during a protest in his hometown, Tell Khalak. He and his family subsequently fled to Lebanon
13&14) Islamists from Tripoli demonstrate against Assad’s regime outside the Syrian embassy in Beirut. Many supporters of Assad fear instability from Islamist influences should the regime fall
15) Riot police look on at a pro-Assad demonstration. Security was stepped up after three anti-Assad demonstrators were hospitalized with critical injuries after clashing with Assad supporters in early August
