One year of Jolani in Syria

The Socialist Bulletin Staff - 8/12/2025

EXACTLY one year ago today, jihadist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham overthrew the Assad government in Syria, with the backing of the United States. Since this event, Syria, once a bastion of resistance against western imperialism, has repeatedly shown its status as subservient to US interests.

Just days following the fall of the Assad government, the Israeli regime launched an invasion in Southern Syria, expanding their occupation in and around the Golan Heights. The new Damascus government responded by allowing the Zionist army to do as they wish.

Promises of "liberal democracy" were immediately dashed when the new regime announced the electoral system by which the 2025 election would be held, no seats were directly elected - a significant number were directly appointed by the President, and the remaining seats were either elected via electoral college, or left entirely vacant. 

Promises of peace and unity have also not been met by the new administration, as clashes with both loyalists to the old government, as well as clashes with fellow US-backed militia, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have increased throughout the year. Additionally, the new HTS-led administration has also failed to unify the nation, with approximately half of the country still outside government control.

The new regime also sought to pay back terrorists that aided the overthrow of the Assad government, granting thousands of former Islamic State (IS) and Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) members, who entered Syria during the decade of civil war to advance the anti-government cause, citizenship.

The regime today celebrated one year since the overthrow of Assad, despite many of Assad's most objectionable policies still being enforced today.