People celebrate holding a large Syrian opposition flag at Umayyad Square in Damascus on December 9, 2024. Syrians flocked to the main square of the capital city Damascus on December 9 to mark what many regard as a long-awaited new dawn after the fall of president Bashar al-Assad. Assad fled to Russia the day before after a lightning offensive spearheaded by Islamist rebels ousted him from power, opening a new chapter in Syria's history after five decades of rule by his clan. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)