As Syria approaches the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s ouster on Monday, December 8, the country is preparing to celebrate a profound political turning point even as it continues to grapple with instability, sporadic violence, and the immense challenge of rebuilding after more than a decade of war.
Syrians will commemorate a year since the end of Assad’s authoritarian rule, though the nation remains fractured and is still struggling to regain its footing following years of conflict.
Official events are planned in Damascus’ central Umayyad Square—already filled with early celebratory crowds—as well as in cities across the country.
Assad fled to Russia one year ago after rebel forces under Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, captured Damascus, ending his more than 13-year tenure during a war that began with a popular uprising.
Celebrations have been ongoing in several regions. Thousands in Hama took to the streets on Friday, waving Syria’s new flag to commemorate the day Sharaa’s Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham movement took control of the city during its swift advance on the capital.
The Kurdish-led administration governing the northeast congratulated Syrians on the anniversary but prohibited public gatherings due to heightened threats from “terror cells” seeking to take advantage of the occasion.
In a speech in late November marking the launch of the rebels’ successful campaign, Sharaa—once a commander within al Qaeda—called on all Syrians to fill public squares to celebrate and display national unity.
Since taking power, Sharaa has enacted sweeping changes in Syria’s foreign policy, strengthening ties with the United States and gaining support from Gulf Arab nations, while distancing Damascus from Assad’s traditional allies, Iran and Russia.
Many Western sanctions have been lifted, and Sharaa has pledged to replace Assad’s repressive security apparatus with a more inclusive and equitable governing system.
However, hundreds have been killed in outbreaks of sectarian violence, causing fresh waves of displacement and deepening mistrust among minority communities wary of Sharaa’s leadership as he seeks to consolidate control nationwide.
The Kurdish-led northeast continues to protect its autonomy, while in the south, some Druze communities—followers of a minority offshoot of Islam—are pushing for independence.
Speaking at a forum in Qatar over the weekend, Sharaa said that “Syria today is living its best times,” despite recent unrest, and vowed accountability for those behind the violence.
He announced that the transitional period under his leadership would continue for four more years, during which institutions, laws, and a new constitution would be established. The constitution would then be put to a referendum before national elections are held.
The Assad family, from Syria’s Alawite minority, ruled the country for 54 years. Since 2011, the war has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions, with roughly five million Syrians fleeing abroad as refugees.
Last week, the central bank governor told the Reuters NEXT conference that the return of about 1.5 million refugees has contributed to recent economic growth.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, humanitarian needs remain extremely severe, with an estimated 16.5 million Syrians expected to require aid in 2025.
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