Syria Commemorates First Anniversary of Assad Regime's Fall with Nationwide Unity Rallies

Nationwide Commemorations Mark Historic Anniversary

Thousands of people across the Syrian Arab Republic have rallied to commemorate the first anniversary of the military operation that led to the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The nationwide demonstrations, held on November 28, 2025, saw participants emphasize themes of national unity and territorial integrity, carrying Syrian flags and chanting slogans for a united and democratic future.

The Fall of a Dynasty

The regime of Bashar al-Assad, which had governed Syria since 2000, collapsed on December 8, 2024, following a swift and decisive military offensive by opposition forces. This marked the end of 53 years of Assad family rule. The offensive, spearheaded by a coalition of Syrian revolutionary factions including Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Southern Operations Room (SOR), began on November 27, 2024. Key cities such as Aleppo and Homs were captured, leading to the eventual fall of the capital, Damascus. As rebel forces entered Damascus, Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow, where he was granted political asylum.

A Call for Unity and a New Future

The anniversary rallies saw large crowds gather in central squares in cities nationwide, including Aleppo and Latakia. Demonstrators waved Syrian flags and chanted slogans that underscored the importance of safeguarding Syria's social cohesion and rejecting division. Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim President and former leader of HTS, congratulated the Syrian people on the anniversary, describing the day as 'the beginning of the struggle that liberated all of Syria' and urging public celebration of this 'historic victory'. He further stated, 'Dear people of Syria, today we mark the anniversary of the great deterrence war in which the former regime, with all its oppressive structures, was overthrown and our country was freed from its chains.'

Transition and Return

Following the collapse of the Assad regime, an interim government was declared in Syria. Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed interim president in January 2025, and a new constitutional declaration was published in March 2025. The period since the regime's fall has seen significant changes, including the return of over 1 million Syrians to the country. The fall of Assad is widely regarded as marking the end of the Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011.