Syria – One year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad (December 8, 2025)

France joins with the Syrian people in commemorating the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime one year ago, on December 8, 2024, after more than 13 years of repression and cruel violence against his own people.

One year ago, Bashar al-Assad left behind a devastated country emptied of much of its population, who – when not forced into exile – were massacred, tortured or bombarded by chemical weapons by the regime and its Russian and Iranian allies.
France has staunchly supported a political transition in Syria since 2011; we have always stood with the Syrian people and remained unwavering in our positions.
On December 8, 2024, France called for a peaceful, inclusive transition and respect for the rights of all components of Syrian society.

On January 3, 2025, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs traveled to Damascus with his German counterpart. A few weeks later, the Paris Conference on Syria held on February 13 gave rise to concrete commitments on the part of Syria, 19 countries, the European Union, and representatives of the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

On May 7, France was the first European country to welcome Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Within the EU, France supported the lifting of European sanctions on May 26 to encourage the recovery of the Syrian economy, which was deeply affected by the war and the Assad clan’s institution of a predatory, corrupt economy fueled by narcotrafficking.

With the page having been turned on the Bashar al-Assad era, it’s time to turn the page on Daesh. The Syrian transitional authorities signed a declaration of political cooperation between Syria and the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh. France calls for the international community to work closely with the Syrian transitional authorities on counterterrorism for the sake of our shared security interests and to stabilize the region.

While Syria reintegrates step by step into its regional and international environment, the country’s unity, stability and sovereignty remain to be consolidated. France utterly condemned the atrocities committed against civilians because of their religious faith or community affiliation on the Syrian coast in March 2025, and in the Sweida region in August 2025. While various national and international commissions of inquiry have presented their conclusions on those atrocities, France will continue to stand with the Syrians in the fight against impunity for all crimes committed, regardless of who is responsible.

Lastly, only a united Syria will be able to protect Syrians of every background. France will continue its efforts to facilitate dialogue between the Syrian transitional authorities and their partners in northeastern Syria, as it has sought to do since the beginning of the transition.