Syrians marked the anniversary of the 2011 revolution with roses and revolutionary songs on Saturday, as celebrations took place openly for the first time in 14 years following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last year.

Amid heightened security, civilians in the capital, Damascus, were seen waving Syrian flags and chanting slogans, with many describing the moment as symbolic of peace after years of conflict.

"People say these roses symbolise peace," Al Jazeera's Resul Serdar reported from Damascus. "For 14 years, helicopters dropped barrel bombs on people. Now, at a time of reconciliation, they are symbolically throwing roses."

The revolution began on March 15, 2011, when protests erupted in Deraa, Damascus, and Aleppo, as demonstrators demanded democratic reforms and the release of political prisoners. The unrest was triggered by the arrest and reported torture of teenage boys in Deraa for graffiti denouncing al-Assad’s rule.

A violent crackdown by the government soon followed, leading to a prolonged civil war. In July 2011, defectors from the military formed the Free Syrian Army (FSA), an opposition group that sought to topple the Assad government. The conflict escalated over the years, culminating in the regime’s downfall after a swift offensive by opposition factions led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The interim government, led by HTS chief and interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, now faces significant challenges, including sectarian violence, Israeli airstrikes, territorial disputes, and a worsening economic crisis. Elections have been scheduled for the next five years as part of a transition plan.

Meanwhile, celebrations on Saturday were marred by an explosion in the coastal city of Latakia, where at least five people were killed and 12 others wounded, according to Syria’s state news agency, SANA. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later reported that the blast was accidental, caused by an attempt to dismantle unexploded ordnance inside a building.