DAMASCUS, SYRIA - DECEMBER 13: People gather in Umayyad Square to continue celebrating the collapse of the 61-year-long Baath regime and the end of the Assad family era, with "Syrian revolution flag," on December 13, 2024 in Damascus, Syria. ( Emin Sansar - Anadolu Agency )
Millions of jubilant Syrians have taken to the streets across several cities, celebrating after the first Friday prayers since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
This marked a symbolic moment of transformation, coming less than a week after opposition forces swiftly entered the capital following a rapid offensive.
DAMASCUS, SYRIA – DECEMBER 13: People gather at the Umayyad Mosque and its surroundings, waving “Syrian revolution flags” and chanting slogans calling for the country’s freedom and a “new Syria” after performing the first Friday prayer at the Umayyad Mosque following the collapse of the 61-year-long Baath regime in Syria and the end of the Assad family’s rule in Damascus, Syria, on December 13, 2024. ( Abdulkarem Al-Mohammad – Anadolu Agency )DAMASCUS, SYRIA – DECEMBER 13: People perform the first Friday prayer at the Umayyad Mosque following the collapse of the 61-year-long Baath regime in Syria and the end of the Assad family’s rule in Damascus, Syria, on December 13, 2024. ( Emin Sansar – Anadolu Agency )
Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Jolani), the head of the new administration, has called on all Syrians to come together in unity.
LATAKIA, SYRIA – DECEMBER 13: An aerial view shows people gathering to celebrate after performing the first Friday prayer following the fall of the 61-year-long Baath regime in Syria and the end of the Assad family’s rule in Latakia, Syria, on December 13, 2024. ( İzettin Kasım – Anadolu Agency )DAMASCUS, SYRIA – DECEMBER 13: Hundreds of people gather to celebrate with the ‘Syrian revolution flags’ after performing the first Friday prayer following the collapse of the 61-year-long Baath regime in Syria and the end of the Assad family’s rule in Damascus, Syria on December 13, 2024. ( Ahmet Karaahmet – Anadolu Agency )
Assad fled to Russia on Sunday, where he and his family have been given asylum, after rebels captured the capital Damascus.
DAMASCUS, SYRIA – DECEMBER 13: An aerial view of crowd as people, holding “Syrian revolution flags,” gather in Umayyad Square to continue celebrating the collapse of the 61-year-long Baath regime and the end of the Assad family era on December 13, 2024 in Damascus, Syria. ( Emin Sansar – Anadolu Agency )DAMASCUS, SYRIA – DECEMBER 13: People gather in Umayyad Square to continue celebrating the collapse of the 61-year-long Baath regime and the end of the Assad family era, waving “Syrian revolution flags,” on December 13, 2024 in Damascus, Syria. ( Emin Sansar – Anadolu Agency )
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