Lebanon is witnessing a growing movement to erase remnants of Syria’s decades-long influence following the downfall of the Assad regime in Damascus last December. As part of this shift, Lebanese authorities have begun renaming streets and public spaces that once bore the names of Syrian regime figures, particularly the late President Hafez al-Assad.

The move comes amid renewed scrutiny of the Syrian regime’s legacy, following revelations of crimes committed against Syrians and their impact on Lebanon during Syria’s military and security control of the country, which lasted for over 40 years.

The initiative to remove Assad-linked names from Lebanese streets began last month with the renaming of the road connecting Mdeirej-Hammana to Bzebdine in Mount Lebanon’s Upper Metn region. What was formerly known as "Hafez al-Assad Avenue" has now been officially renamed "Freedom Avenue."

The decision was announced by Hadi Abou El-Hassan, member of the Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc, who said the new name was chosen to honor the memory of "martyrs and freedom fighters." He added that the original name had been imposed 25 years ago during Syria’s political and military dominance over Lebanon.

“This is a step toward closing the chapter of Syrian tutelage and reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty,” Abou El-Hassan said, noting that the decision was taken in coordination with the Federation of Upper Metn Municipalities and local councils. He also highlighted that the renaming aligns with broader efforts to reassert Lebanese independence, particularly following the withdrawal of Syrian forces in 2005 after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

While there is growing momentum to remove names associated with the Syrian regime, legal procedures must be followed for such changes to take effect.

Mount Lebanon Governor Judge Mohammad Makki explained that any street renaming must be initiated by the local municipalities overseeing the area.

“A municipal council resolution must be submitted to the governor, who will assess the request before forwarding it to the Ministry of Interior for final approval,” Makki told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The process is expected to extend to other roads and public spaces that still carry the names of Syrian political figures, marking a broader effort to sever ties with the remnants of Syria’s former control over Lebanon.

Despite the push for renaming, resistance remains in areas controlled by Hezbollah, particularly in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Efforts to rename "Hafez al-Assad Avenue," the major highway linking Beirut’s international airport to the city center, have faced strong opposition from municipal authorities in Ghobeiry and Bourj al-Barajneh—both Hezbollah strongholds.

A source from the Union of Southern Suburb Municipalities dismissed the renaming campaign as an “ill-intentioned attack” aimed at erasing the legacy of Hafez al-Assad. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said that no formal request had been submitted to change the name of "Hafez al-Assad Avenue" in the southern suburbs.

“The name was given during an official ceremony by former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri himself,” the source said, suggesting that the current efforts were politically motivated. The source further argued that Assad’s role in Lebanon should not be erased, stating that Syria had contributed to "stability" and the "resistance against Israeli occupation," leading to the liberation of South Lebanon in 2000.

The push to remove symbols of Assad’s influence in Lebanon is not new. In the wake of Rafik Hariri’s assassination on February 14, 2005, many Lebanese blamed Syria for his killing. In response, demonstrators tore down and vandalized a statue of Hafez al-Assad in the southern town of Qana.

Further removals followed after the Syrian military’s withdrawal from Lebanon on April 26, 2005. A bust of Bassel al-Assad, the late brother of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was destroyed in the town of Marj in central Bekaa, while another statue of Bassel was demolished in Halba, Akkar, in northern Lebanon. Additionally, the Lebanese army dismantled bronze statues of both Hafez and Bashar al-Assad in Halba, reinforcing the country’s gradual distancing from its decades-long subjugation to Syria.

The renaming of streets marks a symbolic effort by Lebanon to redefine its national identity and move away from the legacy of Syrian control. While supporters view it as a necessary step toward sovereignty, opponents—particularly Hezbollah and its allies—see it as an act of political retaliation.