Syrians are marking the first anniversary of the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad , as the fractured nation struggles to overcome sectarianism and rebuild its economy following 14 years of civil war.

The 53-year-long rule of the al-Assad family ended on December 8, 2024, after a lightning 11-day offensive that took Syria and the world by surprise.

The toppling of al-Assad also ended a long civil war that left lasting scars on the country and saw some 6.8 million Syrians – about one-third of the population – flee abroad .

While Syria has, since then, seen the lifting of crippling economic sanctions and the formal restoration of diplomatic relations with other countries, it also faces great political uncertainty as it grapples with bouts of sectarian violence and protracted Israeli aggr

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