The Al-Sharaa-led alliance launched a lightning offensive in late November last year, capturing the capital Damascus on December 8, after nearly 14 years of war and ending more than five decades of firm rule by the al-Assad family.
After morning prayers at the famous Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, al-Sharaa “praised the sacrifices and heroism of the fighters” who entered Damascus, the presidency said in a statement.
– The current phase requires the unification of efforts of all citizens in order to build a strong Syria, strengthen its stability, protect its sovereignty and achieve a future worthy of the sacrifices of its people – said al-Sharaa, wearing a military uniform as he did when he entered the capital a year ago.
Syrians have been marking the first anniversary of the start of the offensive since late November, and the celebrations culminated Monday in events in Damascus, including a military parade and a planned speech by al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa managed to restore Syria’s international reputation and won the easing of sanctions.
However, it faces great challenges in guaranteeing security, rebuilding institutions, restoring the trust of Syrians and maintaining the unity of their country.
The sectarian bloodshed in the centers of the Alawite and Druze minorities, along with current Israeli military operations, has shaken the country’s fragile transition.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that “what lies ahead is far more than a political transition; it is an opportunity to rebuild broken communities and heal deep divisions.”
– It is an opportunity to create a nation in which every Syrian – regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or political affiliation – can live safely, with equal rights and with dignity – he said in a statement, calling for international support.
The Kurdish administration, which controls parts of northeastern Syria, is supposed to integrate its institutions into the central government by the end of the year under a March agreement, but progress has stalled.
Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi, in a post on Platform X on Sunday, reaffirmed the Kurds’ commitment to the agreement, saying it is the foundation “for building a democratic, decentralized Syria, strengthened by the values of freedom, justice and equality,” reports AFP.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
