The Syrian flag was raised at the embassy in London on Thursday by the country's top diplomat, in an important step toward the full reopening of the diplomatic mission and a sign that the UK was beginning to slowly warm to interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
Hundreds of Syrians surrounded the convoy of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani as he made his way through the doors of the embassy, something described by one spectator as "the people reclaiming the building".
Moments later and Shaibani re-emerged on the first floor, carefully unfolded a new Syrian flag, and attached it to the mast. As it was hoisted above the entrance of the embassy and fluttered in the London breeze, the crowd below bellowed chants from the now completed revolution.
Many of those gathered had joined the weekly protests outside the Syrian embassy during the years of the former regime, before the ambassador was expelled by London more than a decade ago over Assad's chemical attack on opposition areas.
Since then, this Belgravia townhouse has remained vacant with Syrians in the UK denied both the vital consular support of embassy staff but also unable to return home due to the very real threat of detention and murder by Assad's security forces.
"Fifteen years ago, we were here in this place, and we knew this place (from protests against) the regime," Moussa Al-Omar, a Syrian journalist with strong ties to the new government, told The New Arab.
"Now, a beautiful and historic moment has arrived, crowned by His Excellency the foreign minister’s (Shaibani) visit."
Shaibani's visit to London comes amid a whirlwind of diplomatic activity for the foreign minister, following a visit to Washington with President Al-Sharaa earlier this week and Moscow in July.
He will fly to Beijing next, in a bid to win over the last of the UN Security Council members who remain unconvinced about the new Syrian project.
"God willing, Syria has succeeded in bringing together all the Security Council states, and this is something positive for every Syrian who has lived in Britain. This embassy used to intimidate people and so on, but now it is fine. The keys to this embassy are now with the Syrian state," Al-Omar added.
Shaibani, who has met members of the British Syrian community during his London visit, said the flag-raising ceremony was another historic moment for the nation and a symbol of hope for the people.
"After years of isolation imposed by Assad’s chemical regime, today we reopen the Syrian Embassy in London. Syria returns to the world under its free identity," he wrote.
The new Syrian government has been pushing for Western countries to re-establish ties with Damascus since Assad fled in December, which will be vital for the post-war reconstruction process and attracting much-needed investment.
The millions of Syrians who fled the country during the war (and are largely optimistic about the new government) will be a vital component in this outreach, serving as a bridge between the administration in Damascus and the countries they reside in.
Firas Miro, a former Liberal Democrat councillor of Syrian origin, attended a talk between Shaibani and members of the British Syrian community on Wednesday night and said there were positive signs from this dialogue, including ways the officials engaged with the people.
"The meeting was unscripted, and having met some high-ranking officials from the previous regime in my time, I found the way the minister dealt with questions, and even interruptions, especially ones which carried a tone of upset with or criticism of the government, a breath of fresh air
"I am still very happy about [the embassy reopening] because it has been a long-standing aim of our community since Liberation Day, even though we have been informed that initially there will be a consular section only, and it may be a while before there is going to be a Syrian ambassador in London.
"I still hope that this will facilitate more effective communication between the two governments, for the benefit of people in both countries."
The Syrian embassy in Washington was reopened in September, with Shaibani attending a flag-raising ceremony at the compound, but the UK appears to be more reticent in engaging with the new Syrian government.
The attendance at Thursday's ceremony by the UK's Special Representative for Syria Ann Snow was an important signal that London was keen to fully restore ties with Damascus, a move welcomed by British Syrians.
Ramia Yahia, a spokesperson for the Syrian Charities and Associations Network in the UK (SCAN UK), who attended the flag-raising ceremony, told The New Arab that the event was months in the making but stands as a milestone for the Syrian people in the UK.
"For us, this step represents the harvesting of the fruits of Syrian diplomacy's success after 11 months since the fall of the regime. It is an important step for every Syrian... [and] stands as a source of pride and honour for us," said Yahia.
"The opening of the Syrian embassy in London is a highly symbolic step, indicating the beginning of a British openness toward the new Syrian government after years of diplomatic estrangement. It represents a sign of willingness to restore channels of communication, particularly on humanitarian and consular issues, and possibly on regional matters in the future.
"In other words, it can be seen as an initial step paving the way for a gradual process of rebuilding relations, provided that political and security conditions in Syria continue to improve."
Paul McLoughlin is the Head of News and writer of Syria Insight at The New Arab.
Follow him on X: @PaullMcLoughlin