Syrian authorities reopen schools, a week after upheaval that overthrew Assad 

 

A teacher hoists the flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers at a school in the early morning, following an announcement of the reopening of schools by the authorities, after the ousting of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Dec. 15, 2024.

Damascus —

Students returned to classrooms in Syria on Sunday after the country\’s new rulers ordered schools reopened in a potent sign of some normalcy a week after rebels swept into the capital in the dramatic overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.

The country\’s new de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, faces a massive challenge to rebuild Syria after 13 years of civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people. Cities were bombed to ruins, the economy was gutted by international sanctions and millions of refugees still live in camps outside Syria.

Students sit in a classroom at a school in the early morning following an announcement of the reopening of schools by the authorities, in Damascus, Dec. 15, 2024.

In one classroom, a student pasted the new flag on a wall.

"I am optimistic and very happy," said student Salah al-Din Diab. "I used to walk in the street scared that I would get drafted to military service. I used to be afraid when I reach a checkpoint."

As Syria starts trying to rebuild, its neighbors and other foreign powers are still working out a new stance on the country, a week after the collapse of the Assad government that was backed by Iran and Russia.

Ending sanctions?

Sharaa – better known by his rebel nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani – leads the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, the Islamist group that swept Assad from power last week. HTS is a group formerly allied with al-Qaida that is designated a terrorist organization by many governments and is under United Nations sanctions.

Reuters

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By：VOA