Supporters of Syrian government and Americans who say they can’t stomach another war all took to the iconic Manhattan Square on Thursday.

“US, NATO, hands off Syria,” chanted hundreds of protesters, weaving through thousands of tourists, some carrying pictures of President Bashar al-Assad, and some just declaring themselves against another US war.

Khaldon Makhoul, 43, a physician who moved from Syria to America 17 years ago, held a sign reading: “Syria=Iraq. Same Lies.”

“It is another lie and a lot of people are gonna die for nothing,” he said. “Where is the chemical weapon? Until now we didn’t find it. US soldiers will die for nothing. Where is the evidence?”

Others, Syrians of Christian origin, carrying the country’s red-black-white flag, defended Assad and wrote off the accusations he was behind a deadly chemical attack last week as utter lies.

Retired school teacher Robert Shainwald said he was against any US involvement.

“I do not want this nation to become involved in yet another war. People always lose, no matter what side. Enough is enough. We should just stay the hell out.”

Accusations have been leveled against Syrian government by a number of Western and Arab countries after the militants operating inside Syria  claimed on August 21 that hundreds had been killed in a government chemical attack on militant strongholds in the Damascus suburbs of Ain Tarma, Zamalka and Jobar.

The Damascus government, however, has vehemently denied the accusations, saying the chemical attack was carried out by the militants themselves as a false-flag operation.

A number of Western countries, including the US, France, and Britain, were quick to adopt the rhetoric of war against Syria despite the fact that Damascus strongly rejected the claim.

NTJ/BA