Syrian authorities reopen faculties, every week after the upheavals that toppled Assad

By Timour Azhari

DAMASCUS (Reuters) – College students returned to class in Syria on Sunday after the nation’s new leaders ordered the reopening of colleges, a robust signal of some normality, every week after rebels arrived within the capital in the course of the overthrow drama of President Bashar al-Assad.

The nation’s new de facto chief, Ahmad al-Sharaa, faces a frightening problem: rebuilding Syria after 13 years of civil conflict that has killed lots of of hundreds of individuals. Cities have been destroyed by bombings, the financial system has been destroyed by worldwide sanctions and tens of millions of refugees nonetheless dwell in camps exterior Syria.

Officers mentioned most faculties would open throughout the nation on Sunday, which is the primary day of the work week in most Arab international locations. Nonetheless, some mother and father weren’t sending their youngsters to class because of uncertainty in regards to the state of affairs.

On Sunday morning, college students waited fortunately within the courtyard of a Damascus boys’ highschool and applauded as the varsity’s secretary, Raed Nasser, hung the flag adopted by the brand new authorities.

“Every little thing is ok. We’re absolutely outfitted. We labored two or three days to offer the varsity with the required providers for college kids to return to high school safely,” Nasser mentioned, including that the Jawdat al college -Hashemi had not been broken. .

In a single class, a pupil caught the brand new flag on a wall.

“I’m optimistic and really comfortable,” mentioned pupil Salah al-Din Diab. “I walked down the road afraid of being drafted into the military. I used to be afraid once I reached a checkpoint.”

As Syria makes an attempt to rebuild, its neighbors and different international powers proceed to craft a brand new stance towards the nation, every week after the collapse of Assad’s authorities backed by Iran and Russia.

Sharaa – higher recognized by his insurgent nom de nom Abu Mohammed al-Golani – leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that ousted Assad from energy final week. HTS is a bunch previously allied with Al-Qaeda and designated a terrorist group by many governments.

High diplomats from america, Turkey, the European Union and Arab international locations met in Jordan on Saturday and agreed {that a} new authorities in Syria ought to respect the rights of minorities, the secretary of state mentioned American Antony Blinken.