Syrians have taken to the streets to have fun the primary anniversary of the removing of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad amid renewed optimism that situations will proceed to enhance because the nation recovers from the consequences of almost 14 years of battle.
Fireworks rang out, and flags dotted cities throughout the nation on Monday, marking one year for the reason that al-Assad dynasty fell after a lightning 11-day offensive by opposition forces ended its 53-year rule.
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Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa, carrying a navy uniform, carried out the daybreak prayer on the Umayyad Mosque within the capital, Damascus, early within the morning to mark the anniversary.
In a speech after the prayers, al-Sharaa pledged to rebuild Syria.
“Nobody will stand in our means, irrespective of how large or highly effective they’re, and no obstacles will stand in our means. We are going to face all challenges, God keen,” al-Sharaa, who led the opposition forces that seized Damascus on December 8, 2024, mentioned.
“From its north to its south and from its east to its west, we are going to rebuild a robust Syria with a construction befitting its current and its previous, and we are going to rebuild it to assist the oppressed and to determine justice among the many folks.”
Army parades organised by the Ministry of Defence occurred in Damascus and throughout a number of provinces, together with in Hama, Homs and Deir Az Zor.
‘Solely part of the dream got here true’
During the last 12 months, the brand new authorities has taken steps to supply primary providers to residents.
A presidential decree in June raised civil servants’ minimal month-to-month salaries.
Restore and upkeep work started on the nation’s energy grid, with primary cities, together with Aleppo, Homs and Damascus, receiving uninterrupted electrical energy on a trial foundation for the primary time in 15 years.
Prisons that left dark marks on the Syrian public, together with Sednaya, the Mezzeh navy jail, and Khatib, had been additionally completely closed.
However whereas the mood in the nation is joyous, with folks celebrating on the streets, chanting, singing and waving flags, “there’s a whole lot of work to be completed”, mentioned Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig, reporting from Aleppo.
The town, which was break up till 2016 between opposition fighters and pro-Assad forces, took a “actual battering” that may “price billions of {dollars} to rebuild and restore”, he mentioned.
“That’s why the federal government is seeking to worldwide companions for funding, to assist with the rebuilding of this nation, particularly Aleppo, as a result of the preventing right here was so fierce,” mentioned Baig.
In the meantime, hundreds of thousands of refugees and members of the diaspora are weighing the choice to return house and rebuild their lives after the autumn of al-Assad, who fled to Russia a 12 months in the past.
The battle began as a largely unarmed rebellion towards al-Assad in March 2011, however shortly morphed right into a full-blown battle that killed a whole lot of 1000’s of individuals. It additionally led to one of many world’s largest migration crises, with some 6.8 million Syrians, a couple of third of the inhabitants, fleeing the nation on the battle’s peak in 2021, in search of refuge wherever they may discover it.
Greater than 782,000 Syrians have returned to Syria from different international locations over the previous 12 months, based on the Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM).
Regardless of the rise in returns, restricted job alternatives and excessive residing prices proceed to undermine long-term resettling. Housing stays unaffordable for a lot of, leaving returnees in broken houses or costly rental items.
Younger folks in Syria are notably hopeful about change, however the want for extra jobs and for the economic system to revive is pressing.
“Solely part of the dream got here true,” scholar Maha Khalil informed Al Jazeera.
“We’ve victory, however we misplaced years, houses, kids. The true story begins now. We hope we are going to rebuild, however the youth are pondering of going overseas. And those that are overseas are afraid of coming again.”
Focus inward
Syria acquired worldwide assist on its anniversary, with United Nations chief Antonio Guterres reaffirming the organisation’s dedication to make sure the success of Syria’s political transition.
“On this anniversary, we stand united in objective – to construct a basis of peace and prosperity and renew our pledge to a free, sovereign, united and inclusive Syria,” he mentioned.
Heiko Wimmen, Worldwide Disaster Group’s mission director for Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, informed Al Jazeera that whereas the worldwide legitimisation of al-Sharaa has “been a spectacular success”, his authorities should now shift its gaze inwards.
The federal government ought to primarily give attention to rebuilding the economic system after the lifting of international sanctions, “which takes time, as a result of capital and investments are cautious, as they need to be”, Wimmen mentioned.
It also needs to “revive political life”, he added.
For years, Syria’s leaders had been programmed to “monopolise energy”, an strategy that may not work as they try to incorporate all residents within the political combine.
“All people in Syria must be satisfied that, within the nation that’s being constructed, they’ll have a say in the way it’s being constructed – and a spot,” Wimmen mentioned.
