TRANSCRIPT
One year ago...
(SBS Newsreader) "In this bulletin, reports Syria's deposed president is taking asylum in Russia, disruptions.."
On December 9th 2024, Russian state media was reporting that Syria's deposed president Bashar al-Assad, had arrived in Moscow after fleeing Damascus.
Russia was a key ally of Assad's regime - with the former president and his family receiving asylum there.
Many Syrians admit they were surprised at how quickly the regime crumbled, after 14 years of war that led to the destruction of the country, displacing tens of millions of people and causing the deaths of tens of thousands.
At the time, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali said he was willing to facilitate the peaceful transfer of power to any leader who was chosen by the people and called for elections after rebel forces announced they had overthrown President Assad.
"Any new leadership chosen by the Syrian people, we are ready to cooperate with it, providing all possible facilities to ensure a smooth transition of various government files."
Mr Al-Jalali stayed in his post temporarily, to ensure continuity and security, eventually overseeing the transition from the old regime to the new.
The caretaker government was run by the rebel forces, which replaced the presidential system with a new interim constitution.
Those rebel forces were led by now-President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who headed up the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham armed opposition group,
Commemorating the anniversary at morning prayers at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, the President said his government is working towards building a new Syria.
“To the Syrian people: you have proven to the world that victory is just the beginning so let's all continue the story, the story of people who were patient and steadfast turned victorious. Let's make victory a responsibility that makes us work seriously to rise in our country, to make it among the advanced nations.”
Military parades organised by the Ministry of Defence have taken place in Damascus and across several provinces in Syria.
People, celebrating in the streets while fireworks lit the skies overhead.
Syrian citizen Radwan Bakri says he's overwhelmed.
"You cannot describe the anniversary with one word, it's major happiness, and the most beautiful thing about it was the President's speech where he spoke about what he achieved in a year and the hopes and ambitions he has and what he will do in the next phase."
26-year-old Celine is a translator in Idlib and told the BBC she's never seen anything like this in her lifetime.
"Everyone is happy, everyone is gifting each other. Literally no-one is at home right now. Everyone is outside. I've been going out with my friends, celebrating outside. We've brought flags and we're walking around right now taking photos, videos of everything happening."
But celebrations are tarnished with the pain that emerged from Assad’s totalitarian rule and the atrocities that many Syrians faced during the long conflict.
Syrians now hope the fragmented country can slowly transform into a viable state, as it rekindles ties with Arab and Western countries.
