Syrians Mark Anniversary of Key Military Victory

Thousands of Syrians gathered in Damascus's Umayyad Square on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of a major military victory. The event commemorates the day government forces, backed by allies, recaptured the last areas held by opposition fighters in the capital's eastern suburbs. The 2018 campaign, often called "the liberation of eastern Ghouta," ended years of conflict in the agricultural region. The victory was a turning point in Syria's long-running civil war, solidifying government control around Damascus. Officials described the day as a celebration of national sovereignty. State media showed crowds waving national flags and images of President Bashar al-Assad. The conflict in Syria, which began in 2011, continues in other parts of the country. The United Nations estimates the war has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people.