Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said in a speech on Monday, 8 December, marking the first anniversary of the country’s liberation, that the Syrian people had persevered despite all hardships, congratulating Syrians on the anniversary of liberation and the return of “a free and dignified homeland” to its people.
He said the people had written “a page of heroism and a story of great victory.”
Speaking at the Conference Palace in Damascus, al-Sharaa added that “Syria lost the jewel of the East for more than five decades”, in a reference to the Syrian capital Damascus.
Assad regime falls after 11-day battle
The Assad regime fell on 8 December 2024 after an 11-day battle led by al-Sharaa at the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, with support from opposition factions.
A dark page
The former regime tried to strip Syria of its identity and bury its civilization, but the country has regained its standing, al-Sharaa said, adding that the world’s view of Syrians had shifted from pity to admiration and pride.
He considered that the era of the former regime was “a dark page” that sowed sectarian strife and fear among people, turned citizenship into “a certificate of loyalty”, and entrenched a reality built on lawlessness, corruption, and the denial of rights.
The fall of the regime represents “a historic rupture” and the beginning of a new dawn based on justice, citizenship, and coexistence, according to al-Sharaa, who stressed that the end of the military battle was only the start of a new struggle in the arenas of work, innovation, and matching words with deeds.
He said that from the first days, the government had set out a clear vision for the new Syria, “a strong state that belongs to its past and looks to its future.”
According to al-Sharaa, the Syrian state has resumed its diplomatic activity, which has contributed to a fundamental change in Syria’s image abroad and made it a trusted partner in its Arab and international surroundings. He pointed out that the past period had seen the conclusion of strategic partnerships in the sectors of energy, ports, airports, real estate, and telecommunications.
These developments, he said, helped support economic recovery, open the door to investment, improve incomes, and alleviate citizens’ hardship.
The missing are not up for negotiation
The Syrian president referred to the integration of the various armed forces into a unified national army based on professionalism and institutional loyalty to the homeland, describing this as a key step in consolidating security and stability.
Al-Sharaa stressed the government’s commitment to the principle of transitional justice, ensuring accountability for those who committed violations, and safeguarding victims’ rights.
“The people’s right to know the truth, to question, then to see accountability or reconciliation, is the foundation of state stability and a guarantee that violations will not be repeated,” he said.
He added that the issue of the missing “is not open to bargaining”, and that the search for truth would not stop.
“The victory is only a beginning, so that we can complete the story of a people who endured and persevered” he said, addressing “those who paved the way with their blood and suffering, martyrs, the wounded, detainees, and fighters, to all of them we offer our greetings and peace.”
Al-Sharaa performed the dawn prayer today, 8 December, at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, to mark the first anniversary of Syria’s liberation.
He also attended a military parade held this morning in Damascus to mark the anniversary.
The parade set off from Mezzeh airport (in western Damascus), moved along the Mezzeh highway, passed through Umayyad Square (in central Damascus), and ended at Customs Square in the capital.
Various units and formations of the Ministry of Defense took part in the parade.
Aleppo, al-Sharaa marks the anniversary of the city’s liberation
The post Al-Sharaa: We Close a Dark Chapter and Begin Rebuilding the State appeared first on Enab Baladi.