Syria Celebrates "Liberation Day" at UN, Defying Western Isolation

Syria hosted a high-level ceremony at the United Nations headquarters this week to mark its "First Liberation Day." The event was attended by diplomats from multiple UN member states and senior UN officials. The celebration was organized by Syria's Permanent Mission to the UN. In a speech, Syria's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, stated the day reflects the "resilience" of the Syrian people. The "Liberation Day" refers to the Syrian government's declared victory over the Islamic State (ISIS) group in late 2017. The UN event signals Damascus's ongoing effort to regain international diplomatic standing.