Aleppo: Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa stated that the city of Aleppo in northern Syria served as 'the gateway' for revolutionaries to enter all of Syria. His comments were made during a speech in Aleppo, commemorating the first anniversary of the city's liberation from former President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
According to Anadolu Agency, Syrians have been celebrating since Thursday the first anniversary of the 'Deterrence of Aggression' battle, which commenced on November 27, 2024. This pivotal battle resulted in the toppling of Bashar al-Assad's regime in a span of 11 days. Aleppo was one of the initial cities to be liberated, with the battle commencing in its western countryside before the liberation was officially declared in early December 2024.
In his speech, as reported by SANA, Sharaa highlighted the significance of Aleppo, stating: 'From the walls of Aleppo, we saw Damascus liberated. For us, Aleppo was the gateway to entering all of Syria. After Aleppo's shackles were broken, prisoners were freed, and smiles returned to children's faces.' He emphasized that 'the journey truly began the moment Aleppo was liberated, and we will all work tirelessly to rebuild Syria anew.'
President Sharaa further elaborated, 'After Aleppo was freed, hope returned to the entire nation with Syria's return to its embrace. Today is not merely a celebration of Aleppo, but a title for a new history being drawn for all of Syria and for the entire region.'
Earlier on Saturday, state-run Alikhbaria TV reported that Sharaa had arrived in Aleppo 'to meet with civil and military actors on the anniversary of the liberation.' The end of Assad's nearly 25-year leadership came with his flight to Russia last December, bringing an end to the Baath Party regime that had been in power since 1963. Sharaa's new transitional administration took shape in January.