Syrians celebrate a year after Bashar Assad’s fall, in photos

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Syrians celebrate a year after Bashar Assad’s fall, in photos

2025-12-08 22:29 Last Updated At：22:31

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — As celebrations kicked off marking the first anniversary on Monday of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad’s regime, Syrians are still struggling to heal after the dynasty’s repressive 50-year rule and a 14-year civil war that killed an estimated half-million people, displaced millions more and left the country battered and divided.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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A Syrian man waves his country flag during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

New Syrian army ride their motorcycles during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Members of the new Syrian army line up in formation during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Powered paragliders fly over a gathering during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad, with Mount Qasioun seen in the background, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A woman waves the Syrian flag as members of the new Syrian army stand in formation during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Fighters from the new Syrian army chant as they march during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Fighters from the new Syrian army march with rocket-propelled grenade launchers during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, greets people as he attends celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki) I

Soldiers of the new Syrian army stand in formation before a parade as part of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

A child takes a selfie with soldiers of the new Syrian army dressed in camouflage as they gather before a parade, part of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

A boy handles a weapon at the "Syrian Revolution Military Exhibition," which opened last week ahead of the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

People celebrate and wave Syrian flags as they wait for a parade by the new Syrian army marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrian men wearing anonymous masks flash victory signs, as they stand on top of their car with its front window covered by an Islamic flag, during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Syrian man silhouetted by a digital billboard showing the date of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime during celebrations marking the first anniversary, in Damascus , Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. The Arabic words read: "A history retold and a bond renewed." (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A girl sits on a machine gun as visitors tour the "Syrian Revolution Military Exhibition," which opened last week ahead of the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Riot police stand in formation ahead of a parade by the new Syrian army marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrians celebrate the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian man fires fireworks during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrians shout slogans and wave flags outside the Umayyad Mosque before a prayer held ahead of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Wanted portraits of former Syrian president Bashar Assad are displayed in the window of a coffeeshop, in Damascus Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, as Syrians celebrate marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Two boys walk down a street carrying Syrian flags in the war-damaged Damascus suburb of Daraya, Syria, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, ahead of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

More Images

A Syrian man waves his country flag during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

New Syrian army ride their motorcycles during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Members of the new Syrian army line up in formation during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Powered paragliders fly over a gathering during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad, with Mount Qasioun seen in the background, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A woman waves the Syrian flag as members of the new Syrian army stand in formation during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Fighters from the new Syrian army chant as they march during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Fighters from the new Syrian army march with rocket-propelled grenade launchers during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, greets people as he attends celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki) I

Soldiers of the new Syrian army stand in formation before a parade as part of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

A child takes a selfie with soldiers of the new Syrian army dressed in camouflage as they gather before a parade, part of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

A boy handles a weapon at the "Syrian Revolution Military Exhibition," which opened last week ahead of the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

People celebrate and wave Syrian flags as they wait for a parade by the new Syrian army marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrian men wearing anonymous masks flash victory signs, as they stand on top of their car with its front window covered by an Islamic flag, during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Syrian man silhouetted by a digital billboard showing the date of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime during celebrations marking the first anniversary, in Damascus , Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. The Arabic words read: "A history retold and a bond renewed." (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A girl sits on a machine gun as visitors tour the "Syrian Revolution Military Exhibition," which opened last week ahead of the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Riot police stand in formation ahead of a parade by the new Syrian army marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrians celebrate the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian man fires fireworks during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrians shout slogans and wave flags outside the Umayyad Mosque before a prayer held ahead of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Wanted portraits of former Syrian president Bashar Assad are displayed in the window of a coffeeshop, in Damascus Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, as Syrians celebrate marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Two boys walk down a street carrying Syrian flags in the war-damaged Damascus suburb of Daraya, Syria, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, ahead of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Thousands still evacuated near Southern California chemical tank despite eased explosion fears

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A crack in a damaged chemical tank in Southern California has eliminated the risk of a catastrophic explosion but it's still not safe enough for the remaining 16,000 residents living closest to the aerospace plant to go home, officials said Tuesday.

Crews were spraying water to keep cooling the tank that overheated last week, prompting the evacuation of 50,000 people in the Orange County city of Garden Grove. Most returned home after a crack formed over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, relieving pressure inside.

The evacuation zone remained the same on Tuesday morning, said Orange County Fire Capt. Brian Yau.

Crews worked overnight to ensure two other nearby tanks were neutralized and would not be affected by the compromised tank, he said, adding that material from one of these two tanks was transferred to another that has a neutralizing agent.

“They are moving material over to ensure that all threats have been eliminated,” Yau said.

Those threats include the risk of a very small explosion and potential spill, officials said.

Exposure to methyl methacrylate — a highly flammable chemical used to make plastics — can cause serious respiratory problems, neurological problems and irritation to the skin, eyes and throat, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The tank at the GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems plant contains 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of the chemical.

The interior cooled to 93 degrees F (33.9 degrees C), the county's fire division chief Craig Covey said Monday, down from 100 degrees (37.7 degrees C) a day earlier. The company said its technical specialists and the county fire authority have removed insulation from the tank to help cool it.

Health officials sought to reassure people who are returning to homes near the plant.

“There was no contamination. There were no fumes,” Orange County Health Director Regina Chinsio-Kwong said at Monday's news conference. “There was not a leak. So it should be, you should feel comfortable going home even if you’re across the street from that new zone line.”

The South Coast Air Quality Management District will monitor the air for several months and the EPA will be checking sewer and storm drains for spills, Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen said.

Garden Grove Unified School District said last week it was shutting a dozen schools through what was supposed to be the last day of the school year on Wednesday but later said only three would remain closed Tuesday. It was unclear if they would reopen before the school year ends this week.

At a parking lot at a large park in Fountain Valley, just southwest of Garden Grove, people sought refuge in an ad hoc shelter there or pitched tents outside. Other people gathered in the park to enjoy Memorial Day.

Kim Yen, a retiree who was still evacuated from her home two blocks from the plant, welcomed news that the worst was not expected.

“I am happy and many of us are happy,” she said Monday.

She said she's ready to go back but wants to be sure it’s safe first. She's also been worrying about the emergency workers, who she called “our heroes.”

As the tank heated up, the chemical converted from liquid to gas, ramping up the pressure and explosion risk, said Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University engineering professor who has studied environmental contamination. Some of the methyl methacrylate may already have hardened into a stable plastic similar to plexiglass, reducing the danger, he said.

The tank could eventually cool enough for crews to safely stabilize and drain the remaining material without triggering a spark or ignition, Whelton said.

However, he said there is still a risk of an explosion while the chemical remains hot and reactive. Temperatures need to fall closer to 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 21.1 degrees C) before conditions are considered significantly safer, he said.

GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems makes cockpit windows, canopies and windshields for military and commercial aircraft. It employs about 16,000 people across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries, according to the company website.

“We apologize for the ongoing disruption this incident is causing and our priority remains its safe resolution, so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible,” the company said.

GKN Aerospace agreed in 2025 to pay state regulators more than $900,000 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.

——

This story has been corrected to attribute a quote to TJ McGovern, interim fire chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, not to division chief Craig Covey.

Willingham reported from Boston. Contributing were Associated Press journalists Jamie Stengle in Dallas; Ethan Swope in Garden Grove, California; and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles.

Syrians celebrate a year after Bashar Assad’s fall, in photos

Syrians celebrate a year after Bashar Assad’s fall, in photos

A Syrian man waves his country flag during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

New Syrian army ride their motorcycles during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Members of the new Syrian army line up in formation during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Powered paragliders fly over a gathering during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad, with Mount Qasioun seen in the background, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A woman waves the Syrian flag as members of the new Syrian army stand in formation during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Fighters from the new Syrian army chant as they march during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Fighters from the new Syrian army march with rocket-propelled grenade launchers during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, greets people as he attends celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki) I

Soldiers of the new Syrian army stand in formation before a parade as part of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

A boy handles a weapon at the "Syrian Revolution Military Exhibition," which opened last week ahead of the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

People celebrate and wave Syrian flags as they wait for a parade by the new Syrian army marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrian men wearing anonymous masks flash victory signs, as they stand on top of their car with its front window covered by an Islamic flag, during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Syrian man silhouetted by a digital billboard showing the date of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime during celebrations marking the first anniversary, in Damascus , Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. The Arabic words read: "A history retold and a bond renewed." (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A girl sits on a machine gun as visitors tour the "Syrian Revolution Military Exhibition," which opened last week ahead of the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Riot police stand in formation ahead of a parade by the new Syrian army marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrians celebrate the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrians celebrate the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian man fires fireworks during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrians shout slogans and wave flags outside the Umayyad Mosque before a prayer held ahead of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Wanted portraits of former Syrian president Bashar Assad are displayed in the window of a coffeeshop, in Damascus Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, as Syrians celebrate marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Two boys walk down a street carrying Syrian flags in the war-damaged Damascus suburb of Daraya, Syria, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, ahead of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

A Syrian man waves his country flag during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

New Syrian army ride their motorcycles during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Members of the new Syrian army line up in formation during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Powered paragliders fly over a gathering during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad, with Mount Qasioun seen in the background, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A woman waves the Syrian flag as members of the new Syrian army stand in formation during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Fighters from the new Syrian army chant as they march during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Fighters from the new Syrian army march with rocket-propelled grenade launchers during a parade marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, greets people as he attends celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki) I

Soldiers of the new Syrian army stand in formation before a parade as part of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

A boy handles a weapon at the "Syrian Revolution Military Exhibition," which opened last week ahead of the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

People celebrate and wave Syrian flags as they wait for a parade by the new Syrian army marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrian men wearing anonymous masks flash victory signs, as they stand on top of their car with its front window covered by an Islamic flag, during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Syrian man silhouetted by a digital billboard showing the date of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime during celebrations marking the first anniversary, in Damascus , Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. The Arabic words read: "A history retold and a bond renewed." (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A girl sits on a machine gun as visitors tour the "Syrian Revolution Military Exhibition," which opened last week ahead of the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Riot police stand in formation ahead of a parade by the new Syrian army marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrians celebrate the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrians celebrate the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian man fires fireworks during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrians shout slogans and wave flags outside the Umayyad Mosque before a prayer held ahead of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Wanted portraits of former Syrian president Bashar Assad are displayed in the window of a coffeeshop, in Damascus Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, as Syrians celebrate marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Two boys walk down a street carrying Syrian flags in the war-damaged Damascus suburb of Daraya, Syria, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, ahead of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

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