Domestic Reception: Cautious Hope or Skepticism?
Within Syria, reactions to the new emblem are mixed, reflecting the country’s complex political and social landscape.
In Damascus, where the ceremony was broadcast on public screens, crowds reportedly cheered as the emblem was revealed. Flags bearing the new eagle were distributed in public squares, and state television aired interviews with citizens praising the new symbol as “the rebirth of Syria.”
But in Idlib, where rebel militias still operate in rural pockets, and in Qamishli, in the Kurdish-majority northeast, responses were more subdued. Local leaders in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) issued a statement welcoming the gesture but emphasizing the need for constitutional guarantees of regional autonomy.
“The emblem is important,” said Dr. Zeinab Khoury, a sociologist at the University of Aleppo. “But symbols alone don’t fix roads, rebuild hospitals, or bring justice to those who have lost everything. This must be followed by real reconciliation and inclusive governance.”
To that end, President al-Sharaa has promised a national referendum on a new constitution within the next six months and has invited international observers to monitor the process. A draft released in June outlines a decentralized parliamentary system, term limits for executive office, and guaranteed protections for ethnic and religious minorities.