Fireworks lit the sky and music blared on Monday in the center of Syria’s capital, Damascus, as tens of thousands of people celebrated the first anniversary of the fall of the dictator Bashar al-Assad and the end of his family’s decades-long tyrannical rule.

Newly leaked videos reveal former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad mocking Syrians who can't afford food, military personnel, and Russian President Putin's appearance

The 53-year-long rule of the al-Assad family ended on December 8, 2024, after a lightning 11-day offensive that took Syria and the world by surprise. The toppling of al-Assad also ended a long civil war that left lasting scars on the country and saw some 6.8 million Syrians – about one-third of the population – flee abroad.

In one of the clips, the former Syrian president is seen mocking the people, saying they spend on mosques but "can't even afford food".

Assad is said to be living a life of reclusion in Moscow, but rumors say he is also doing business, while his brother plots a return.

Assad was removed from power last year after opposition forces entered Damascus. He has since taken refuge in Moscow, which had backed him throughout the Syrian conflict.

In rare footage published by the Al-Arabiya network, the former Syrian president is heard expressing disgust with the state of the country and insulting his people.

Former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad lives in Moscow under strict Russian supervision with banned public appearances, limited movements and no political activity since fleeing Damascus in4.View on e

A spreadsheet of dead Sednaya prisoners seen by Reuters after Assad's fall included his name, Ali Mohsen al-Baridi, dating his death as October 22, 2019 from "stopped pulse and breathing" with orders that the body not be given to his family.

As city after city fell to a lightning rebel offensive in Syria last December, Iranian forces and diplomats supporting Bashar al-Assad saw the writing on the wall, abandoning the longtime ruler days before his ousting,