Syria's Assad makes rare public appearance for Eid
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (C) stands with leaders of the army in this file handout photo.
Image by: SANA / REUTERS
Image by: SANA / REUTERS
Syria's state-run TV has aired footage of the Syrian president performing Eid prayers in a mosque in Damascus.
It is the first appearance in public by Bashar Assad after a July 18 bombing in Damascus killed the country's defence minister and three other top security officials, including the president's brother-in-law.
Assad prayed at the Hamad Mosque in Damascus early on Sunday at the start of Eid al-Fitr, a three-day holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The last time he appeared in public was on July 4 when he gave a speech in parliament.
Since then, there has been a sharp escalation in the country's civil war with almost daily fighting in some districts of the capital between security forces and rebels seeking to topple Assad.
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