Druze fighters in southern Syria demonstrated against the government in Damascus on August 16th, wearing vests provided for self-defense and calling for annexation with Israel. Separately, a meeting took place in Raqqa involving tribal leaders, SDF officers, and the international coalition to discuss the handover of the city to the Syrian state before the end of August. The Druze demonstration, reported by Kann News and attributed to sources [@kaisos1987](https://twitter.com/kaisos1987) and [@itayblumental](https://twitter.com/itayblumental), saw participants vocalizing their demands for annexation with Israel. The report noted the fighters were equipped with vests transferred for their self-defense. In Raqqa, the meeting was arranged by the international coalition and included Mazloum Abdi, along with notables and tribal leaders. Discussions centered on the potential transfer of Raqqa to Syrian state control, with public opinion favoring the state's entry. However, a limited number of sheikhs dealing with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) expressed concerns about their personal safety. The coalition requested an urgent response from the SDF, by Thursday morning, to avert potential Turkish-Syrian military action. During the Raqqa meeting, SDF officers attempted to gain support from tribal notables for the SDF's continued presence, stating their readiness to defend the city. The consensus among attendees supported the Syrian state's entry. One attendee requested assurances from the SDF regarding the accountability of their members who had joined the SDF, but the SDF stated they were not responsible for anyone's safety.
