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Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa appeared inside the Umayyad Mosque in the capital wearing the same military uniform in which he entered the city a year ago on the anniversary of Damascus's liberation. An image that drew wide attention across social media platforms.
His appearance coincides with the anniversary of Dec. 8, 2024, the date on which Syrian rebels entered Damascus and declared the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime, a moment that marked a major turning point in Syria's modern history.
Amid tight security measures and a large official presence, Sharaa walked through the courtyards of the Umayyad Mosque wearing military attire, a gesture that commentators described as an assertion of his role on the domestic scene and an effort to highlight the symbolic meaning of victory on this national occasion.
Presidential Media Adviser Ahmad Muwaffaq Zaidan said that the military uniform worn by President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the Umayyad Mosque was a reminder to Syrians of the victory the country is celebrating today.
In an interview with Alikhbaria Syria on Monday, Dec. 8, he added that the uniform is a source of pride for every Syrian and also a reminder of the people who sacrificed their lives wearing it, noting that without their souls, the country would not be enjoying this sense of peace and security."
Delivering a speech from the pulpit of the Umayyad Mosque, President Sharaa affirmed his commitment to safeguarding Syria from north to south and east to west and to building a nation worthy of its present, its history and its deep cultural roots.
He also pledged to stand with the vulnerable and ensure justice for all citizens.
In the same context, the presidential media adviser stressed that the Umayyad Mosque belongs to all Syrians, regardless of their ethnicities, backgrounds or sects.
Therefore, the president's presence, his prayer, and his address to the people carry special significance on the first anniversary of victory.
"The hardest days are behind us, and the best are ahead of us, thanks to the unity and goodwill of all Syrians," Zaidan added, emphasizing that the country has now entered a phase of reconstruction and stabilization, and everyone is called upon to help build Syria and participate in its recovery.
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