ALEPPO, Syria — It is unclear where the political path for Syria is leading. With a divided opposition and a government still in power and surrounded with allies, it is clear that the country’s instability will persist longer, causing more damages and civilian suffering. Yet for the 10th anniversary of the Syrian revolution, the opposition-held areas in northwestern Syria celebrated the 10th anniversary of the revolution — originally ignited on March 18, 2011, in the southern governorate of Daraa — in a festive atmosphere. Hundreds of thousands of civilians took to the streets across these parts, affirming from the freedom squares that their journey persists.
The preparations for the demonstrations and festivities began a few days before the anniversary date in many cities and towns that the Syrian regime does not control. The revolution’s banners filled the squares in the cities of Idlib, Azaz, al-Bab, Dana, Jisr al-Shughour and others.