Syrian Revolution Victory Conference
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox summit meeting
|name=Conference for Announcing the Victory of the Syrian Revolution
|date=29 January 2025
|country={{flag|Syria|revolution}}
| venues = Presidential Palace
| cities = Damascus, Syria
|chairperson=Ahmed al-Sharaa
|participants=
|image=Al-Sharaa Victory Conference (2025).png
|caption=Ahmed al-Sharaa, appointed President of Syria, addressing the conference}}
The Syrian Revolution Victory Conference, officially titled the Conference for Announcing the Victory of the Syrian Revolution ({{langx|ar|مؤتمر إعلان انتصار الثورة السورية}}), was held at the Presidential Palace in Damascus, Syria, on 29 January 2025. It was attended by the commanders of various armed revolutionary factions that fought for the Syrian opposition coalition against the deposed regime of Bashar al-Assad, with the exception of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Southern Operations Room, and groups from Suwayda. It was organized by the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham-led Syrian caretaker government under de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The meeting praised the successful Syrian Revolution which resulted in the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December 2024. In the conference, Military Operations Command spokesman Hassan Abdel Ghani announced that al-Sharaa had been appointed the president of Syria for the transitional period and laid out the new government's priorities, most of which involved eliminating traces of the deposed Ba'athist regime and rebuilding Syrian institutions.
Background
On 8 December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed during a major offensive by opposition forces. The offensive was led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported mainly by the Syrian National Army as part of the ongoing Syrian civil war that began with the Syrian Revolution in 2011. The capture of Damascus marked the end of the Assad family's rule, which had governed Syria as a hereditary sectarian totalitarian regime since Hafez al-Assad assumed power in 1971 following a coup d'état.{{Cite web |last1=Gebeily |first1=Maya |last2=Azhari |first2=Timour |date=8 December 2024 |title=Assad gets asylum in Russia, rebels sweep through Syria |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-rebels-celebrate-captured-homs-set-sights-damascus-2024-12-07/ |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241218174033/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-rebels-celebrate-captured-homs-set-sights-damascus-2024-12-07/ |archive-date=18 December 2024 |website=Reuters}}
= December 2024 conference =
{{Syrian peace process}}
Al-Sharaa held a similar conference in Damascus in late December 2024, where various groups agreed to merge under the Defense Ministry.{{Cite web |date=24 December 2024|accessdate=8 February 2025|title=Turkey-backed Armed Factions to Merge Under Syrian Defense Ministry |url=https://npasyria.com/en/120152/ |website=North Press Agency}}
Those who were present at the December conference included: Fadlallah al-Haji, the head of the National Front for Liberation, Azzam al-Gharib, the head of the Levant Front, Essam al-Buwaydhani, the head of Jaysh al-Islam, Al-Mutasim Abbas, the head of the Mu'tasim Division, Muhammad al-Dairi, the head of the Third Legion of the Syrian National Army, Saleh Amouri, a leader in the Northern Storm Brigade, Amer al Sheikh, the head of Ahrar al-Sham, Abu Saleh Tahan, the head of Jaysh al-Ahrar, Mondher Saras, the head of the Sham Legion and Abu Hatem Shakra, the head of the Liberation and Construction Movement. Al-Sharaa spoke with Essam al-Buwaydhani, the head of Jaysh al-Islam, and shook his hand, signaling a thaw in relations between the groups.{{Cite web|date=25 December 2024|accessdate=27 February 2025 |title=Sharaa Meets Leaders of Military Factions, Agree to Integrate Them Under Ministry of Defense |url=https://syrianobserver.com/security/sharaa-meets-leaders-of-military-factions-agree-to-integrate-them-under-ministry-of-defense.html |publisher=The Syrian Observer|website=Syria TV}} Some of the rebel figures who attended that meeting, including al-Gharib and Murhaf Abu Qasra, have been appointed to either political or military positions in the new administration.{{Cite web |last1=Sharawi |first1=Ahmad |date=31 December 2024|accessdate=8 February 2025 |title=Profiles of new Syrian military leadership |url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2024/12/profiles-of-new-syrian-military-leadership.php |website=FDD's Long War Journal}}
The head of the Southern Operations Room, Ahmad al-Awda, did not attend.{{Cite web |date=8 January 2025 |title=South Syria fighters reluctant to give up weapons: spokesman |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2025/01/08/fighters-in-southern-syria-reluctant-to-give-up-weapons-spokesman- |website=Al Arabiya|agency=Agence France-Press|accessdate=27 February 2025}}
Objectives
During the conference, al-Sharaa gave a brief speech, outlining the transitional government's immediate priorities which included: "filling the power vacuum, maintaining civil peace, building state institutions, building and developing the economy and restoring Syria's international and regional standing."{{Cite web |title=Syria’s ‘Victory Conference’, its Timing and Implications |url=https://jusoor.co/en/details/syrias-victory-conference-its-timing-and-implications |access-date=8 February 2025|date=4 February 2025 |website=Jusoor |language=en}}
Abdel Ghani announced that 8 December, the date of the fall of the Assad regime, would be declared a national day. He also announced "the abolition of the 2012 Syrian constitution and the suspension of all exceptional laws", "the dissolution of the People's Assembly and its committees", "the dissolution of the former regime's army and the establishment of a new army," the dissolution of the Ba'athist regime's intelligence and security apparatuses, "along with ... the militias it established", "the dissolution of the Syrian Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party and member parties of the National Progressive Front bloc", "the dissolution of all armed factions, political, and civilian revolutionary bodies, and their merger into state institutions", and the appointment of Ahmed al-Sharaa as president of Syria for the transitional period, and the formation of the Interim Legislative Council until a "permanent constitution" is approved and enacted.
Al-Sharaa was appointed president by the Syrian General Command.{{Cite web|date=29 January 2025|accessdate=9 February 2025|title=General Command appoints Ahmed al-Sharaa as President of Syria |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2025/01/general-command-appoints-ahmed-al-sharaa-as-president-of-syria/|website=Enab Baladi}} After his appointment as president, al-Sharaa, in his first address on 31 January 2025, stated that he would hold a "national dialogue conference" and issue a "constitutional declaration" to serve as a "legal reference" during the political transition following the dissolution of the 2012 Syrian constitution.{{Cite web|date=31 January 2025 |title=Syria's interim president vows to preserve 'civil peace' in first address |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250130-syria-qatar-discuss-reconstruction-during-emir-s-visit |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en}} Al-Sharaa declared that he would "pursue the criminals who shed Syrian blood and committed massacres and crimes."{{Cite web |date=31 January 2025 |title=Syria: Ahmed al-Sharaa vows to pursue criminals in first interim president speech |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czep8kyeeyyo |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}
Participants
{{Ahmed al-Sharaa series}}
Those who were present at the conference included: Amer al Sheikh, the head of Ahrar al-Sham and governor of Rif Dimashq, Ahmad Issa Sheikh, the head of the Suqour al-Sham Brigades and governor of Idlib, Azzam al-Gharib, the head of the Levant Front and governor of Aleppo, Fadlallah al-Haji, the head of the Sham Legion and chief of staff of the Syrian National Army, Sayf Abu Bakr, the head of the Turkish-backed Hamza Division, Abu Amsha, the head of the Turkish-backed Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade, Salem Turki al-Antri, the head of the US-backed Syrian Free Army, Jamil al Saleh, the head of Jaysh al-Izza and Abu Hatem Shaqra, the head of Ahrar al-Sharqiya.{{Cite news |last=Sharawi|first=Ahmad |date=30 January 2025|accessdate=22 February 2025|title=Ahmad al Sharaa’s Victory Conference: Syria’s new era and an exclusive translation of Sharaa’s speech|url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2025/01/ahmad-al-sharaas-victory-conference-syrias-new-era-and-an-exclusive-translation-of-sharaas-speech.php |work=FDD's Long War Journal}} The Eighth Brigade from Daraa was also present.{{cite web|title=Syria: What comes after declaration of victory |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2025/02/syria-what-comes-after-declaration-of-victory/ |publisher=Enab Baladi|access-date=22 February 2025|date=6 February 2025}} The Southern Operations Room, as well as local groups from Suwayda and the Syrian Democratic Forces, were excluded.
Groups that announced their pending dissolution included: Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, Ahrar al-Sham, Jaysh al-Izza, Jaysh al-Nasr, Ansar al-Tawhid, Sham Legion, Al-Firqah Al-Saliheyah (faction in Al-Salihiyya), Jaysh al-Ahrar, the Suqour al-Sham Brigades, Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria, Liwa al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar, Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, the Levant Front and the Syrian National Army.{{cite web|title=Syrian Leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa Delivers 'Victory Speech,' Outlines Syria's Future Roadmap, Announces Dissolution Of Ba'ath Party, Armed Factions Into New 'Syrian Army'; Military Operations Command Declares Al-Sharaa President Of Syria During Transitional Phase|url=https://www.memri.org/jttm/syrian-leader-ahmed-al-sharaa-delivers-victory-speech-outlines-syrias-future-roadmap-announces |publisher=MEMRI|access-date=15 February 2025|date=29 January 2025}}
Aftermath
=Reactions=
Al-Sharaa received congratulations from leaders of many countries, including Afghanistan,{{Cite web |last=Mohammadi |first=Habib |date=18 February 2025 |title=Taliban’s chief minister congratulates Syria’s interim president|url=https://amu.tv/158403/ |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Amu TV |language=en-US}} Azerbaijan,{{Cite web |title=To His Excellency Mr. Ahmad al-Sharaa, President of the Syrian Arab Republic for transitional period » Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic |url=https://president.az/en/articles/view/68156 |access-date=15 February 2025 |website=president.az |language=en}} Canada,{{Cite web |last=Press |first=The Canadian |date=13 February 2025 |title=Trudeau congratulates Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa despite terrorist listing |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/trudeau-congratulates-syrian-interim-leader-ahmed-al-sharaa-despite-terrorist-listing/ |access-date=19 February 2025 |website=CTVNews|language=en}} Lebanon,{{Cite web |date=9 January 2025 |title=Lebanon new President Aoun continues to receive congratulatory messages from Arab nations |url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250109-lebanon-new-president-aoun-continues-to-receive-congratulatory-messages-from-arab-nations/ |access-date=23 February 2025 |website=Middle East Monitor}} Mauritania,{{Cite web |date=12 February 2025 |title=Mauritanian President congratulates President al-Sharaa on assuming the presidency |url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=346727 |access-date=23 February 2025 |website=Syrian Arab News Agency |language=en-US}} Russia,{{Cite web |last=Mhamad |date=12 February 2025 |title=President Putin congratulates President al-Sharaa on assuming presidency of the Republic |url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=346736 |access-date=19 February 2025 |website=Syrian Arab News Agency |language=en-US}} Saudi Arabia,{{Cite web |title=Saudi King, Crown Prince Congratulate Syria's Sharaa On Interim Presidency |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/saudi-king-crown-prince-congratulate-syria-s-sharaa-on-interim-presidency-862107a2 |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Barrons |language=en-US}} and United Arab Emirates,{{Cite web |date=31 January 2025 |title=UAE President congratulates Ahmed Al Sharaa on appointment as Syria's interim president |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/bhy88va-uae-president-vps-congratulate-ahmed-al-sharaa-1.500026112 |access-date=22 February 2025 |website= |language=en}} on his appointment as the president of Syria. The United Nations maintained a neutral stance, refusing to recognize the new Syrian leadership and emphasizing the importance of the transitional phase in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254.{{Cite web |date=1 February 2025 |title=Ahmad al-Sharaa Addresses Syrian People in First Presidential Speech |url=https://levant24.com/news/national/2025/02/ahmad-al-sharaa-addresses-syrian-people-in-first-presidential-speech/ |access-date=1 February 2025 |website=levant24 |language=en-US}}
On 31 January 2025, the head of the Syrian Interim Government (SIG) in northern Syria, Abdurrahman Mustafa, congratulated al-Sharaa on becoming president, it was also announced that the SIG would be at the disposal of the transitional government.{{cite web |title=Syrian Interim Government (SIG) Prime Minister Congratulates President al-Sharaa, Puts SIG Resources At His Government's Disposal |url=https://www.memri.org/jttm/syrian-interim-government-sig-prime-minister-congratulates-president-ahmed-al-sharaa-puts-sig |access-date=4 February 2025 |publisher=MEMRI}} On 17 February, Mazloum Abdi, leader of the Kurdish-led SDF, congratulated al-Sharaa on assuming the Syrian presidency and invited him to visit northeast Syria.{{Cite web |date=17 February 2025 |title=Kurdish-led SDF Commander Invites Syria’s President to Visit Northeast Syria |url=https://npasyria.com/en/122224/ |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=North Press Agency |language=en-US}} On 10 March, al-Sharaa signed an agreement with Abdi, integrating the SDF and its civilian administration into the Syrian state.{{Cite web |title=Syria merges Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into state institutions |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/10/syria-merges-kurdish-led-syrian-democratic-forces-into-state-institutions |access-date=10 March 2025 |website=Al Jazeera English |language=en}} The deadline for the merger has been set for the end of the year.{{Cite web |title=Syrian Government and SDF Reach Landmark Agreement on Kurdish Rights and Security |url=https://npasyria.com/en/123033/ |access-date=10 March 2025 |website=North Press Agency |language=en}}
= Early actions =
File:Επίσκεψη Υπουργού Εξωτερικών, Γιώργου Γεραπετρίτη, στη Συρία (Δαμασκός, 09.02.2025) (cropped).jpg with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis in Syria on 9 February 2025]]
On 30 January 2025, a day after appointing al-Sharaa as president, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani became the first head of state to visit Damascus since the fall of the Assad regime, discussing post-conflict reconstruction in Syria and other topics.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2025 |title=Syria, Qatar discuss reconstruction during emir's visit |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20250130-syria-qatar-discuss-reconstruction-during-emir-s-visit |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=RFI |language=en}}
In February 2025, the transitional government deployed its forces into areas under SIG control, as the Syrian National Army started to merge with the newly formed Syrian Army and began dismantling barracks and other military infrastructure.{{Cite web |date=6 February 2025 |title=Iran Update, February 6, 2025 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-february-6-2025 |access-date= |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en|accessdate=19 February 2025}} However, the SNA is still actively fighting against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).{{Cite web |date=15 February 2025 |title=Turkey says it would reconsider its military presence in Syria if Kurdish militants are eliminated|url=https://apnews.com/article/syria-security-conference-turkey-pkk-sdf-kurds-ceac41eca1aed0f49975c897637d07e1|access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Associated Press|last=Abou Aljoud|first=Sally|language=en}} On 2 February, al-Sharaa and foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited Saudi Arabia and met with Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman.{{Cite news |date=2 February 2025 |title=Syria's New Interim President Travels to Saudi Arabia for First Foreign Visit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/world/middleeast/syria-saudi-arabia-interim-president-visit.html |work=The New York Times}} This was al-Sharaa's first foreign visit since the fall of the Assad regime.{{Cite web |title=Syria's leader heads to Saudi Arabia for the first foreign trip – DW – 02/02/2025 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/syrias-leader-heads-to-saudi-arabia-for-first-foreign-trip/a-71485678 |access-date=2 February 2025 |website=dw.com |language=en}} Later, on 4 February, al-Sharaa visited Turkey as his second foreign visit and met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.{{Cite web |title=Syria’s al-Sharaa, Turkiye’s Erdogan talk Kurdish fighters, defence pacts |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/4/syrias-al-sharaa-meets-erdogan-to-talk-kurdish-fighters-defence-pacts |access-date=13 February 2025 |website=Al Jazeera English |language=en}}
On 12 February, al-Sharaa held a phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin, in what was the latter's first contact with a Syrian head of state since Assad's overthrow.{{Cite web |date=12 February 2025 |title=Syria’s leader, Russia’s Putin make first contact since al-Assad’s fall |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/12/syrias-leader-russias-putin-make-first-contact-since-al-assads-fall |access-date=13 February 2025 |website=Al Jazeera English |language=en}} On 17 February, al-Sharaa made his first official trip to the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, which were once strongholds of the ousted president Bashar al-Assad.{{Cite web |date=17 February 2025 |title=Syria's new leader visits former Assad strongholds - World News |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syrias-new-leader-visits-former-assad-strongholds-205920 |access-date=18 February 2025 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |language=en}} On 26 February, al-Sharaa met with King Abdullah II of Jordan in Amman during his third foreign trip.{{cite news |date=26 February 2025 |title=Jordan, Syria leaders agree to bolster border security |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/jordan-king-tells-syrian-interim-president-he-condemns-israeli-attacks-2025-02-26/ |work=Reuters}}