DAMASCUS, Syria — In an emotionally charged display, thousands of Syrians packed the streets and public squares on Saturday to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the country’s civil war. This marked the first time such a celebration has taken place since the departure of Bashar Assad from power.
Symbolic Syrian flags were waved triumphantly as citizens celebrated the rebel forces’ victory, which brought an end to the Assad family’s fifty-year reign. Jubilant rallies could be seen across major cities, including the capital Damascus, the northern city of Aleppo, and Idlib, where the offensive began last November.
In the heart of Damascus at Umayyad Square, a man held a banner proclaiming, “15/3/2025, same date but we are now victorious”. Adding to the celebration’s poignancy, helicopter gunships showered the crowd with flowers—aircraft that were previously used by Assad’s regime to drop deadly barrel bombs on opposition-held areas. This gesture of releasing flowers was meant to convey a message of hope and renewal.
“Today, helicopters are gifting you hope instead of pain, peace instead of fear,” read an Arabic message tied to a flower descending over the square.
Among those celebrating was Yaman al-Ali, who expressed immense joy. He passionately supported the “revolution” since 2011, and while he felt a sense of triumph over Assad’s removal, he still called for the former leader’s execution.
“We express our joy in victory here today, thanks to divine grace,” said Lamyaa al-Doueish, acknowledging this year as the first endowment of victory in 14 years.
Syria’s conflict arose as part of the Arab Spring in 2011, initially as peaceful protests before spiraling into a full-blown civil war under Assad’s oppressive crackdown. With a death toll of half a million and more than five million displaced as refugees, the conflict has ravaged the country.
The revolt that ultimately led to Assad’s fall was spearheaded by insurgent factions like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Beginning in November, the insurgents swiftly captured Aleppo, Hama, and Homs before finally taking Damascus on December 8. Assad fled to Russia thereafter, marking the conclusion of the Assad family’s brutal reign.
Despite the regime change, challenges persist under the interim administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Recent skirmishes between Assad loyalists and the interim government have unleashed significant violence, claiming approximately 1,000 lives, predominantly from the Alawite minority.
A crucial step was taken this week when the interim government reached an agreement with the Kurdish-led authority in the northeast, culminating in the signing of a temporary constitution. While an Islamist framework guides this transitional period, assurances have been made for protecting the rights of all Syrians over the next five years.
However, even with Assad’s removal, the populace largely remains in poverty, with calls from Syrian and regional officials for the West to lift long-standing sanctions. Yet, the U.S. and European nations demand a definitive, democratic political transition inclusive of all minorities before sanction relief. Meanwhile, Syria seeks urgent financial aid to embark on reconstruction.
Late Saturday, an explosion ravaged a hardware store in a four-story building in the coastal city of Latakia, resulting in two deaths and leaving seven others injured. The Syrian Civil Defense is continuing search operations for any missing people as the cause of the blast remains unclear.
