By Álvaro Mellizo
Damascus, Dec 13 (EFE).– Interim Prime Minister Mohamed al-Bashir delivered a landmark sermon at the iconic Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, urging Syrians to unite and build a “new Syria” founded on dignity, reconciliation, and tolerance after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
“Victory is a great responsibility,” Bashir proclaimed, addressing thousands in his first public speech since assuming office. “The construction of the state is a responsibility for all of us.”
His words resonated with a diverse audience, including armed fighters, foreign journalists, and ordinary Damascenes, who gathered near one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world to witness what many described as a pivotal moment in Syrian history.
The sermon reflected a shift in political discourse, with calls for reconciliation and an end to divisions.
Bashir appealed for tolerance, stating that rebuilding Syria’s future required solidarity among all sects and groups.
A Vision of Coexistence Before the sermon, the mosque courtyard embodied the spirit of unity Bashir advocated.
Armed fighters posed for photos with children, foreign journalists conducted interviews freely, and locals expressed hope for a united Syria.
“Today’s sermon was a great joy and a victory for the nation,” said Ahmed Gazal, the mosque’s Quran reciter.
Elderly attendee Fayza Mohamed Qader expressed her hopes for a Syria where “all sects are together and the missing return home.”
Meanwhile, Abdussamed Dagül, a Turkish-German journalist with ties to Idlib, remarked on the new government’s commitment to ending division and repression. “The Salvation Government knows what is at stake,” he said.
Violence Beyond Damascus
However, the optimism in Damascus was tempered by ongoing violence in other regions. Clashes continued between Kurdish-Syrian militias and Turkish-backed HTS forces near Manbij, despite a US-brokered ceasefire.
The autonomous administration of North and East Syria announced plans for dialogue with the insurgents to unify governance mechanisms.
Israel also carried out airstrikes on weapon depots and military positions linked to the ousted regime, aiming to prevent them from falling into insurgent hands.
Israeli troops maintained their positions on Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights.
Amid these challenges, Bashir’s call for unity and reconciliation in Syria marked a symbolic step toward a new chapter for the war-torn nation. EFE
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