Syrians flooded the streets with celebratory gunfire on Sunday after a sudden rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50-year reign following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.

Cheerful crowds gathered in central Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag in scenes similar to that of the early days of the Arab Spring uprising before a violent crackdown and the rise of insurgency plunged the country into a nearly 14-year civil war.

As Syrians woke to a transformed nation, rebel flags had replaced the posters of Assad, which once were displayed on nearly every corner. This shift could signal a major change, possibly marking the beginning of a new official flag for a country with a history of multiple flag changes.

The current Syrian flag

The current Syrian flag, featuring red, white, and black stripes with two green stars in the centre, has been in use since 1980.

In this flag, the red represents the bloodshed in Syria’s struggle for freedom, while white signifies a peaceful future. The black colour reflects the alleged oppression faced by Arabs, and the green stars symbolise Syria and Egypt, the founding states of the United Arab Republic, NDTV said in a report.

Notably, the flag was first adopted in 1958 when Syria gained independence from European influence and joined Egypt to form the United Arab Republic. The flag underwent three changes between 1961 and 1980 before settling on its current design. However, with the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, this flag could soon be replaced.

The rebel flag

On Sunday, as rebels declared on Syria’s state television that the 50-year Assad family dynasty had been overthrown, green-white-black-red opposition flags were seen flying across the country.

Celebrations also erupted in Germany, Turkey, and Greece, where thousands of jubilant crowds waved the Syrian opposition flag.

Supporters of the rebels stormed the Syrian embassy in Athens and raised the opposition flag from the rooftop. While police detained four individuals, they allowed the flag to remain flying, Reuters said in a report.

The rebel flag, though similar to the current Syrian flag, features green at the top, white in the middle, and black at the bottom, with three red stars in the centre.

Notably, the flag is a revised version of the independence flag first used in 1932 when Syria gained independence from France. The Syrian opposition has adopted it to symbolise their desire for freedom from the Assad regime.