Syria Marks One Year Since Assad's Departure as U.S. Sanctions Repeal Advances\n\n## Introduction\n\nSyria observed the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad's departure this week, occurring concurrently with legislative progress in the United States to repeal economic sanctions against the country.\n\n## U.S. Sanctions Repeal Efforts\n\nThe U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to repeal sanctions imposed under the Caesar Act, which was enacted in 2019 following reports of killings and torture attributed to the Assad regime. The Syrian Foreign Ministry characterized this development as a "pivotal moment" that could restore opportunities for the Syrian populace. The U.S. Senate is anticipated to approve the repeal of these sanctions the following week.\n\nThe removal of sanctions is projected to facilitate billions of dollars in investment for infrastructure and humanitarian aid, areas previously hindered by international adherence to U.S. financial restrictions. It is also expected to benefit local commerce. Yasser Homsi, owner of Sham Services, a Syrian travel company, noted that the repeal would allow transactions with international payment systems like Visa and Mastercard, which are frequently used by tourists. He currently operates his company from the United Kingdom and uses a third country for financial transfers to Syria due to existing bans.\n\n## Anniversary of Assad's Ouster\n\nThe anniversary of Assad's departure by opposition forces, observed on Monday, was preceded by several days of public celebrations, including fireworks and vehicles sounding horns in Damascus. On Monday, following dawn prayers at the main mosque in Damascus's Midan district, worshippers exited the mosque at the approximate time of Assad's departure from Damascus under Russian protection on December 8, 2024. Assad and his wife, Asma, currently reside in exile in Russia.\n\nWorshippers were observed chanting "Allahu akbar!" and women performed traditional ululations in the streets. The mosque's perimeter fence displayed hundreds of photographs of individuals killed during the 2011 and 2012 uprising against Assad. Neighborhood resident Lutifa Muyadin expressed gratitude for the perceived freedom since the former regime's removal, acknowledging those who contributed to Assad's ouster and thanking the United States for the sanction repeal, specifically mentioning "Trump" and his administration.\n\n## New Leadership and Societal Impact\n\nSyrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, identified as a former al-Qaida fighter who has publicly renounced the group's ideology, delivered a nationwide address. He stated his commitment to fulfilling the country's potential, asserting, "The people granted us their trust after years of oppression and injustice. So let our motto be 'honesty,' and our pledge be construction." Mouaz Moustafa, a Syrian-American activist and founder of the Syria Emergency Task Force, observed the celebrations, describing the public sentiment as an "expression of how much evil they lived under." He compared Assad's overthrow to the fall of the Berlin Wall.\n\n## Aftermath of Conflict and Current Challenges\n\nAssad's response to the uprising in 2011 initiated a civil war that lasted 13 years, with support from Iran and Russia. The United Nations reports that at least 500,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands remain missing, with many believed to be interred in mass graves. One such site, a few miles from Damascus, contains over 20 sunken areas indicating mass graves, where Moustafa estimates approximately 20,000 bodies are buried.\n\nWhile many Syrians report increased freedom compared to the Assad regime, some individuals express heightened concern. President Sharaa's new security forces reportedly include former militants implicated in retaliatory killings targeting Alawite and Druze minorities. Additionally, a suicide bombing at a church in June, claimed by a militant Sunni Muslim group, has contributed to fear among Christians.\n\n## Economic Developments and Outlook\n\nNew electric taxis are now operating in Damascus, a significant change in a country where new car imports were restricted until a year prior. The company 77 Auto, which imports these vehicles from China, has opened a showroom and is installing charging stations. Afraa Sharif, CEO of 77 Auto, indicated that lifting sanctions would enable the activation of vehicle software using Syrian registrations, circumventing the current need for registrations in China or the UK. She also stated that a factory built two years ago with the former regime's approval was never permitted to open.\n\nSharif noted that under the previous regime, the possession or even accounting use of the U.S. dollar was prohibited, potentially leading to imprisonment. Despite widespread poverty, some individuals maintain a positive outlook. Bilal Falaha, a second-hand clothing shop worker earning about $5 daily, expressed optimism for Syria's future. His family home was destroyed in the war, and he noted, "Things will get better but people have to work hand in hand with the state."