Syrians Head into First New Year without Assad | DW News

Dec 31, 2024 | For the first time in over half a century, Syrians are heading into the New Year free of the Assad family's brutal leadership. But Syria's new de-facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa has warned that Syrians may have to wait three years for a new constitution and four for elections. Al-Sharaa, and his Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have been trying to reassure people at home and abroad that personal freedoms will be protected in the meantime. In Damascus, those promises are already being put to the test as some bar owners risk reopening their establishments.