ALEPPO: Thousands gathered on Saturday (December 21) in Aleppo to attend a concert organised by the London-based humanitarian organisation, Syria Relief, as life begins to normalise in Syria under opposition-controlled areas with residents continuing to celebrate newfound freedoms.
The four-hour concert featured renowned Syrian artist Yahya Hawwa with attendees enjoying an evening filled with music, revolutionary and resistance-themed songs and anthems.
Syrian flags waved across the venue as the concert concluded peacefully, offering vibrant and colorful scenes.
FALL OF SYRIA’S 61-YEAR BAATH REGIME
Clashes between anti-regime armed groups and forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad intensified November 27, leading to significant shifts in the country.
Between November 30 and December 7, opposition groups gained control of major provinces, including Aleppo, Idlib, Hama and Homs.
By December 7, as opposition forces entered the national capital of Damascus, widespread public support helped the groups dismantle regime control.
The Baath Party’s 61-year rule officially ended December 8 when Assad fled the capital to Russia, where he and his family sought asylum.
The Syrian National Army, meanwhile, launched the Dawn of Freedom operation in December, successfully liberating the town of Tel Rifaat from the PKK/YPG terror organization on the first day.
The operation also secured Manbij, clearing the western Euphrates region of PKK/YPG presence.
Following the regime’s collapse, a transitional government was formed, with Mohammed al-Bashir appointed interim prime minister until March 2025.
Türkiye reopened its embassy in Damascus on December 14, and several Western countries have since sent delegations to the Syrian capital.
SYRIAN POWER CORNERS NOW
The Syrian Kurdish groups are now on the back foot as they seek to preserve political gains carved out during 13 years of war. The power balance has tilted against them since the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept into Damascus this month, toppling President Bashar al-Assad.
The influence of HTS has been further strengthened by the appointment of Murhaf Abu Qasra as the interim defence minister by Syria’s new rulers. Abu Qasra, who is also known by the nom de guerre Abu Hassan 600, is a senior figure in the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group which led the campaign that ousted Assad this month. He led numerous military operations during Syria’s revolution.
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