Umayyad Square in Damascus hummed to the throngs of people brandishing "revolution" flags as Syria saw in the new year with hope following 13 years of civil war.
Gunshots rang out from Mount Qasioun overlooking the capital where hundreds of people gazed up at fireworks, an AFP reporter at the square saw.
It was the first new year's celebration without an Assad in power for more than 50 years after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December.
"Long live Syria, Assad has fallen," shouted some children.