Aleppo's 1,300-Year-Old Great Umayyad Mosque Reopens After War Damage
Syria has reopened the historic Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo following extensive restoration that began after the civil war.
After more than 13 years of closure, Syria reopened the Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo, a landmark dating back to the eighth century and situated within a UNESCO World Heritage area. The ceremony featured presidential media adviser Ahmad Muwaffaq Zaidan, Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib and Endowments Minister Mohammad Abu al-Khair Shukri, among other officials and clerics. The mosque, once heavily shelled and left with damaged walls, domes and a destroyed 45-meter minaret, has been restored under a project launched by the Aleppo Endowments Directorate in late 2025.
Restoration follows earlier attempts by the former regime in 2017 and aligns with a national plan to rebuild thousands of mosques damaged in the 2011-24 civil war. The event follows the recent reopening of the Saint Simeon church complex, highlighting a broader push to revive Syria's ancient cultural sites.
Why it matters
The reopening signals Syria's move to restore heritage sites and revive cultural life after years of conflict.
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