thousands of people march in Damascus to celebrate the “victory of the revolution”

thousands of people march in Damascus to celebrate the victory

In Syria, six days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Abu Mohammed al-Joulani made a call to celebrate the “victory of the revolution” this Friday, December 13. The leader of the armed coalition took power in Damascus after an eleven-day offensive, led by rebels notably from the radical Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The call was heard and a crowd was present on the spot.

2 mins

With our special correspondents in Damascus, Murielle Paradon and Boris Vicith

Tens of thousands of people responded to the call of the leader of the armed coalition Abu Mohammed al-Joulani and gathered at the Umayyad Square, right in the center of Damascusand the population continues to flow. This huge crowd shouts slogans, such as “ Bashar al-Assad has fallen ” And ” God is the greatest. »

On site, young students, their faces painted in the colors of the revolution, are very enthusiastic about participating in this gathering. One of them, aged 22, testifies, very moved, that this is the first time she has expressed herself freely in the street. Another says she hopes Bashar Assad is brought to justice for the crimes he committed. All hope for a better future in the country, but also to be able to travel abroad.

A Syrian woman paints the independence flag, used by the opposition since the start of the uprising in 2011, on the face of a young girl during celebrations of the fall of President Bashar al-Assad this week in the square Umayyad headquarters in Damascus, December 13, 2024.

A brigade from Hayat Tharir al-Sham (HTS), one of the components of the rebel coalition which took power, is also present in central Damascus. These heavily armed men, some of their faces masked, welcomed us. Multiplying reassuring messages to abroad. They provide security for the demonstration, fearing, they say, infiltration by pro-Bashar elements or his Iranian and Russian allies. For the moment, the gathering is taking place in a calm atmosphere, and it is expected to last several hours.

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