Videos: Anti-regime protests continue throughout rebel-held Syria

Protests against the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad took place on Friday in rebel-held communities throughout Syria. 

In rural areas of Damascus, demonstrations took place in areas including Ghouta, Sabqa, Yalda, Jobar and Douma. 

Elsewhere in the country photos and videos emerged of further demonstrations taking place in rebel-held Idlib province including Idlib city, Jassem, Maarrat al-Numan, Sarmada, Salqin and Saraqeb. Anti-regime crowds also gathered in al-Atareb and Kafr Hamra in Aleppo province, and in Talbiseh in Homs province. 

In several areas, including Ghouta and Sabqa, demonstrators chanted in solidarity with communities in the besieged, rebel-held valley of Wadi Barada, located close to the capital.

The valley is currently the scene of ongoing clashes despite the existence of a nationwide ceasefire for Syria that came into place in late December. 

Other themes brought up in demonstrations included criticism of Russian and Iranian military intervention in Syria in support of the regime, and continued calls - first voiced during peaceful anti-government demonstrations in 2011 - calling for Bashar al-Assad to step down from power.

To date a Russia-Turkey brokered ceasefire for Syria has largely held with the exception of continued clashes in Wadi Barada.

Negotiations between the Syrian regime and opposition representatives towards a peace settlement in Syria are scheduled to begin in mid-January in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, a close Russian ally.

Two previous ceasefires for Syria brokered in 2016 failed to hold. However, since those ceasefires collapsed, a regime victory in Aleppo has turned the conflict considerably in favour Assad.

Ghouta, Damascus province