For the first time in 14 years, Syrians openly commemorated the anniversary of the 2011 revolution in Damascus on Saturday, marking the occasion with roses and revolutionary songs. The celebrations followed the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last year.
Under tight security, civilians in the capital were seen waving Syrian flags and chanting slogans. Many described the moment as a symbol of peace after years of war and suffering.
“People say these roses represent peace,” reported Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar from Damascus. “For 14 years, helicopters dropped barrel bombs on people. Now, in a time of reconciliation, they are symbolically throwing roses.”
The revolution began on March 15, 2011, with protests erupting in Deraa, Damascus, and Aleppo, as demonstrators demanded democratic reforms and the release of political prisoners. The unrest was sparked by the arrest and alleged torture of teenage boys in Deraa for graffiti criticizing Assad’s rule.
A brutal government crackdown followed, escalating into a full-scale civil war. By July 2011, defectors from the Syrian military had formed the Free Syrian Army (FSA), an opposition group aiming to overthrow Assad. The conflict intensified over the years, eventually leading to the regime’s collapse after a rapid offensive by opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Now, an interim government headed by HTS leader and interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces significant challenges, including sectarian violence, Israeli airstrikes, territorial conflicts, and economic instability. A transition plan has been set in motion, with elections scheduled for the next five years.
However, the celebrations were overshadowed by a deadly explosion in the coastal city of Latakia. According to Syria’s state news agency, SANA, at least five people were killed and 12 others injured. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later reported that the blast was accidental, caused by an attempt to dismantle unexploded ordnance inside a building.
