A new flag for Syria, 2024

People in Syria and those across the world have taken to the streets to celebrate the end of dictator Bashar Al Assad's brutal regime, raising an alternative version of the country's official flag.

Assad was toppled after rebel forces launched a shock offensive, sweeping through Syria and gaining control of the country's major cities in just 12 days.

The former leader has now fled to Moscow where he has been granted asylum while an interim government is established by rebel group Hayat Tahrir al Sham.

For many Syrians who have been caught up in over a decade of civil war, his departure signals a new dawn, marked by a new national flag - which has been raised over embassies, painted on faces, hung from bridges and waved jubilantly in cities across the world.

Under Assad, Syria's flag featured horizontal red, white and black stripes, with two green stars across the central white stripe.

The new design replaces the red stripe with a green one and features three red stars along the white stripe. It is the official flag of the Syrian rebels.

The national flag of Syria has subtly changed throughout history, with different versions representing political and geographical shifts.

Since the country became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918, there have been nine different versions of the national flag. The colours - white, green, red and black - are one aspect that has stayed consistent.

The design brought in by the rebels this week was first developed in the 1930s, during the French mandate. It was used by Syrian revolutionaries, and symbolised the desire for independence.

It later became the national flag when Syria became independent in 1946.

It was then replaced in 1958 by the flag of the United Arab Republic, with two stars representing political union between Egypt and Syria.

This design was changed a few times before making a comeback in 1980. It remained Syria's national flag - until now.

*source: Why does Syria have a 'new' flag and what does it mean? | ITV News