Syrians mark the first anniversary of the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad today, as the country struggles to regain stability and recover from more than a decade of war. Official celebrations are planned in the central Umayyad Square in Damascus, as well as elsewhere in Syria, with military parades also planned.

Assad fled Syria exactly a year ago, seeking refuge in Russia, as rebels under the country's new interim president, Ahmed al-Sarrah, overran Damascus. He was toppled after more than 13 years of an uprising that spiraled into a civil war.

Celebrations have been underway in parts of Syria for several days: thousands of people took to the streets of Hamas on Friday, carrying the country's new flag, commemorating the day rebels led by Islamists from Sara's organization, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, captured the city.

The semi-autonomous Kurdish government that controls areas of northeastern Syria congratulated Syrians on the first anniversary of Assad's overthrow, but banned rallies and events for security reasons, citing growing activity by "terrorist cells" seeking to exploit the occasion.

While the interim president has pledged to create an inclusive state, hundreds of people have been killed in sectarian clashes, leading to new displacement of civilians and fueling minority distrust of the Sarrah government.