President Ahmad al-Sharaa during a speech in honor of the "Red Bands," the elite forces that led the liberation of Aleppo, at the city's citadel, on May 27, 2025. (Credit: Amélie Zaccour)
The rumor of his arrival had swelled since the afternoon. It grew louder in front of the significant security presence in place Tuesday at Aleppo's citadel, occupied by a line of snipers. Then, around 7:30 p.m., Ahmad al-Sharaa set foot on the stone ground amidst cheers from the audience, comprised of civilians and military personnel, with a sea of people filming him. On May 27, 2025, the Syrian president moved to Syria's medieval jewel, held by the Syrian army during the civil war, to honor the “martyrs” of the “Red Bands,” the elite forces of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) who fell at the front lines against regime troops exactly six months earlier. Named “Aleppo, the Key to Victory,” the event aimed to recall that by taking the city on Nov. 27, 2024, the fighters paved the way for the capture of Damascus 11 days later, and...
The rumor of his arrival had swelled since the afternoon. It grew louder in front of the significant security presence in place Tuesday at Aleppo's citadel, occupied by a line of snipers. Then, around 7:30 p.m., Ahmad al-Sharaa set foot on the stone ground amidst cheers from the audience, comprised of civilians and military personnel, with a sea of people filming him. On May 27, 2025, the Syrian president moved to Syria's medieval jewel, held by the Syrian army during the civil war, to honor the “martyrs” of the “Red Bands,” the elite forces of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) who fell at the front lines against regime troops exactly six months earlier. Named “Aleppo, the Key to Victory,” the event aimed to recall that by taking the city on Nov. 27, 2024, the fighters paved the way for the capture of Damascus 11 days...
