ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa marked the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s ouster on Monday at the historic Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, recalling the first moments of victory, and vowing to face every obstacle with the support of the Syrian people.

The president initiated the commemoration by leading the al-Fajr prayer in the Umayyad Mosque, one of the oldest and most revered mosques in the world and a Syrian national landmark.

Following the prayer, Sharaa delivered a speech to the crowd, promising to “restore Syria to strength with construction befitting its present and its past.”

“We will rebuild Syria and unify it from its north to its south and from its east to its west,” he added.

“O Syrians, obey me as long as I obey God in you, for by God, no one, no matter how big or great, will stand against us, and no obstacles will stand in our way, and we will all face every challenge, God willing,” the Syrian leader stated.

Sharaa also placed a piece of cloth from the Islamic holy site of Kaaba in the mosque, which was given to him by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the first regional leader to host Syria’s new rulers in 2024.

“We preferred that this piece be in the Umayyad Mosque, so that the countries would unite, and the bonds of love and brotherhood would extend from Mecca to the Levant, and we chose for its inauguration to be at the very first moments of the victory anniversary,” he stated.

Syria on Friday began commemorations for the toppling of Assad in December 2024 with the launch of nationwide “Path of Liberation” events, state media reported. The activities included a paragliding show, a bicycle convoy traveling from Idlib to Damascus, and a civil defense parade in the city of Hama.

Damascus has also prepared larger celebrations for Monday, marking the takeover of the capital and the complete victory over the former Baath regime, through planning rallies, cultural events, and public displays in several cities.

A coalition of rebel forces led by the jihadist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) marched into Damascus on December 8, 2024, and overthrew Syria’s longtime ruler Assad, sending him fleeing to Russia after lightning rebel advances from the north.

In the wake of Assad’s fall, HTS and affiliated groups dissolved and its membership took up the reins of governance in Syria, forming a transitional government led by Sharaa as the country’s interim president.