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Upper intermediate level

Syria: One year since Assad's fall

Episode 251210 / 10 Dec 2025

(Photo by Sally Hayden/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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The story

The 8th of December marked a year since Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was forced to leave the capital, Damascus. Assad’s regime, or way of governing, was marked by civil war and brutal attacks on pro-democracy protesters.

Ahmed al-Sharaa became the country’s president. Al-Sharaa is a former al-Qaeda fighter who led the rebel group which removed Assad from power.

In a speech to the nation on Monday, he promised to build a Syria for all Syrians, saying the country had broken away from its past of repression and violence.

Syrians gathered at home and abroad to celebrate the year anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime, whether they agree with President al-Sharaa or oppose him.

News headlines

Taking stock of Sharaa’s rule in Syria, one year after the fall of Assad
France 24

Can Syria’s president turn wave of global goodwill into tangible results at home?
The Guardian

Jeremy Bowen: Syria feels lighter without the Assads' crushing weight - but now there are new problems
BBC News

Key words and phrases

taking stock
carefully evaluate or review a situation

  • When choosing a career, it's a good idea to take stock of what's important in life.

tangible
real and noticeable

  • The training programme showed tangible results in test scores.

crushing weight
a heavy feeling of pressure which makes life difficult

  • My manager gave me the project and now I’m feeling the crushing weight of responsibility to get this right.

Next 

Hear more about Assad's fall in this episode: Rebels defeat Assad in Syria.

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