Features|Syria's WarAs Syria marks 15 years since anti-Assad uprising, security issues remainSyrians celebrate the start of the 2011 uprising that, in 2024, put an end to Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
On Sun, Dec 15, 2024, Syria marked the 15th anniversary of the uprising that concluded with the end of President Bashar al-Assad's rule. The initial protests on Tue, Mar 15, 2011, in Deraa, Damascus, and Aleppo signaled the onset of significant political…
On Sun, Dec 15, 2024, Syria marked the 15th anniversary of the uprising that concluded with the end of President Bashar al-Assad's rule. The initial protests on Tue, Mar 15, 2011, in Deraa, Damascus, and Aleppo signaled the onset of significant political change.
The Syrian protests began following the arrest and alleged torture of teenagers in Deraa for anti-Assad graffiti. The demands for democratic reforms and the release of political prisoners led to government crackdowns. This escalated into a full-scale conflict involving multiple armed groups, including the formation of the Free Syrian Army by defectors and involvement of various international entities.
In Dec 2024, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group ousted al-Assad, who subsequently fled to Russia. Ahmed al-Sharaa, previously the leader of HTS, is now serving as the president, focusing on the country's reconstruction and security stabilization efforts.
On Sun, Dec 15, 2024, Syria marked the 15th anniversary of the uprising that concluded with the end of President Bashar al-Assad's rule.
President al-Sharaa has established international legitimacy, enhancing relations with regional countries and the United States. Despite progress, security challenges persist. There is an ongoing need for increased recruitment within Syria's security forces to ensure stability, particularly in peripheral regions.
The Syrian government is negotiating to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the national army. Recent operations have expanded government control in northeastern Syria. Additionally, efforts are underway to manage local tensions, exemplified by interventions in Homs to prevent sectarian violence.
Plans to strengthen internal security systems are being implemented by the Ministry of Interior. Despite ongoing security threats, communal relationships are gradually improving, although minority groups express concerns regarding their status in the predominantly Sunni governance structure.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
