Al-Shar' after Changing the State Emblem: We are Launching a Visual Identity that Represents Syria and Rejects Division

SadaNews - Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar' announced Thursday evening that Syria "does not accept fragmentation," during a ceremony where authorities unveiled the new emblem of the republic, a golden eagle topped with three stars, about seven months after coming to power following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. During a ceremony held at the People's Palace, attended by the president and featuring public participation in the squares of major cities, authorities announced the new emblem that was developed by a special team in collaboration with state institutions. In a speech during the unveiling of the new emblem of the republic, al-Shar' stated, "The identity we are launching today represents Syria, which does not accept fragmentation or division; it is unified from north to south and from east to west." The eagle, which has been a symbol of the Syrian republic since 1945, before the rule of the Ba'ath Party that lasted fifty years, forms the basis of the new emblem, with some modifications made. Three stars were added above the eagle, representing the "liberation of the people," as stated in a release from the Ministry of Information. Additionally, five feathers hang from the eagle's tail, symbolizing the five regions of Syria: "Northern, Eastern, Western, Southern, and Central." The ministry stated that this new emblem carries five messages, including "the new state... a modern state emerging from the will of its people," along with "the unity of Syrian territory" and "a new national contract that defines the relationship between the state and the people." In Damascus, hundreds gathered in the "Unknown Soldier" Square located on Mount Qasioun overlooking the city to follow the event, while two large screens were set up in the square, amid the presence of security forces, according to AFP. The ceremony included a display at the Unknown Soldier Square, featuring young men on horses waving flags with the new emblem, while others raised the new Syrian flag in its three colors: green, black, and white, with three red stars in the center. Similar festive gatherings were reported in other major cities across the country, especially in Aleppo, the largest city in the north, according to state media. Since coming to power after the ousting of the ousted president Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, President Ahmad al-Shar' has announced a series of steps to manage the transitional phase, which included an immediate solution for the previous People's Council, followed by signing a constitutional declaration, defining the transitional phase for five years, as well as forming a transitional government.