Men and women queue up as former soldiers, police members, and civilians wait at a centre for handing over small arms and security registration with the new authorities in Damascus on December 24, 2024. Islamist-led rebels took Damascus in a lightning offensive on December 8, ousting president Bashar al-Assad and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. The transitional government, which took control of Syria on December 8, is registering the men city by city. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)