Syrian People Commemorate One Year Anniversary of Overthrowing Bashar al-Assad’s Regime
On Monday, December 8th, Syrian citizens marked the one-year anniversary of the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad and his iron-fisted rule. This war-torn country, after enduring years of conflict, is now striving to achieve stability and rebuild.
According to reports from Reuters, official celebrations were held at Umayyad Square in the center of Damascus, where large crowds had gathered prior to December 8th. Similar events were also taking place in other parts of the country, including a military parade in the capital.
A year ago, when rebel forces led by the new Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, captured Damascus and ended al-Assad’s rule, the dictator fled to Russia. The war began with an uprising against al-Assad and lasted for over 13 years.
According to the state news agency, SANA, Sharaa attended the dawn prayer at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus to commemorate the occasion.
Sharaa, a former commander of Al-Qaeda, has implemented significant reforms since taking office, reshaping Syria’s diplomatic landscape. He has established relations with the United States, gained support from Gulf Arab countries and Turkey, while distancing himself from Iran and Russia, allies of the Assad regime. Harsh sanctions imposed by Western countries on Syria have also been largely lifted.
Sharaa has pledged to replace the brutal police state under Assad’s rule with an inclusive and just order.
UN Deputy Special Envoy for the Syrian conflict, Najat Rochdi, stated that the fall of the Assad regime signifies Syria’s “first real opportunity in generations” to reshape the country’s future.
Aleppo was the first major city captured by Sharaa’s forces last year. On Monday, cars paraded through the streets of the city, with people waving the new Syrian flag.
Local resident Mohammed Karam Hammami said, “We’ve started to love this country. We didn’t love it before, always wanting to escape from here.”
However, sectarian conflicts have resulted in hundreds of deaths, causing further displacement and deepening mistrust of Sharaa’s government among minority groups, as he strives to bring all of Syria back under central authority.
Speaking at a forum in Qatar last weekend, Sharaa stated that despite some incidents of violence, “today, Syria is in its best period” and vowed to hold those responsible accountable.
He indicated that the transitional period under his leadership would continue for four more years to establish institutions, laws, and a new constitution to be put to a national referendum, followed by elections in the country.
The Assad family had ruled Syria for 54 years.
Since 2011, the Syrian war has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, with millions displaced and around 5 million refugees fleeing to neighboring countries.
The UN Refugee Agency stated on Monday that around 1.2 million refugees and 1.9 million internally displaced people have returned to their homes since the fall of the Assad regime. However, a reduction in global aid funding could hinder more people from returning home.
The Governor of the Syrian Central Bank mentioned at the Reuters NEXT annual event that the return of approximately 1.5 million refugees is contributing to the country’s economic growth.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that there is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance across Syria, with an estimated 16.5 million people requiring aid in 2025.