Syrians Mark War's End, But Divisions Linger

Citizens in Damascus celebrated Monday, marking one year since the end of Syria's 14-year civil war. The anniversary coincided with a military parade in the capital. Many residents described a feeling of "renewed hope" now that the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad has fallen. However, the mood is not universal across the country. In areas controlled by Kurdish authorities, and among Christian, Druze, and Alawite minority communities, feelings remain mixed. These groups express cautious uncertainty about the nation's future political landscape. The conflict, which began as a pro-democracy uprising, resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions.