In an unexpected twist to the long-running Syrian conflict, the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime was not marked by a final epic battle or a drawn-out siege, but by the swift disintegration of his military and the sudden departure of the president himself. The 50-year reign of the Baathist dictatorship came to an abrupt end, leaving the people of Damascus to process the monumental change that had just unfolded.
As Syrians celebrate their newfound freedom in Umayyad Square, the capital’s streets are filled with both jubilation and trepidation. Though the immediate threat of the Assad regime has dissipated, the future remains uncertain. As a journalist on the ground, I’ve been speaking to those living through this historic moment, their emotions ranging from elation to fear.
Bashar al-Assad, with little more than a handful of aides, fled Damascus with barely any time to erase the evidence of his tyrannical rule. His once-loyal forces, including the feared mukhabarat (secret service) and the elite divisions of the Republican Guard and the 4th Armoured Division, commanded by his brother Maher, found themselves outpaced by the rebel advance. Abandoned by their leader, many soldiers laid down their weapons and disappeared, leaving behind helmets, uniforms, and equipment strewn across the streets. For the people of Damascus, it was a moment of relief, though the path ahead remains unclear.
Photographer Waseem Sas, who witnessed the chaotic fall of the regime, described his mixed emotions: “I feel happiness, but also sadness. Many of my friends are missing from these photos.” Sas’s words reflect the deep sorrow that lingers in the wake of a war that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, with many more still languishing in Assad’s notorious prisons. As rebel forces advanced through the capital, thousands of prisoners were freed from the infamous Saydnaya complex, but access to the deepest levels, where some prisoners are believed to be held under brutal conditions, remains elusive.
On the streets of Damascus, Syria’s cultural scene is out in force. Hadi Akil, a 23-year-old music producer and DJ, expressed his pride in the fall of the regime, joining others in chants of “Assad is down!” Akil, like many others, saw the toppling of Assad as a long-awaited victory for the Syrian people, symbolised by the destruction of a statue of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father and the former president. “It was a symbol of breaking free from the chains of fear and control,” Akil said, hopeful that Syria’s creative community, long stifled by government censorship, could now flourish in a climate of freedom.
Yet, despite the celebrations, there is also palpable anxiety about what the future holds. The end of one oppressive regime could easily give way to another, and fears of a strict religious rule replacing Assad’s secular dictatorship have emerged. “There’s a real concern that new restrictions on freedom of expression could emerge,” Akil warned, reflecting the worries of many Syrians who fear the loss of the hard-won freedoms they’ve fought for.
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For younger generations, who have known nothing but life under the Assad family, this moment is both a cause for celebration and reflection. Shoruk, a 24-year-old dental student, was overwhelmed with emotion upon hearing the news that Assad had fled. “I thought of my late father, who had waited for this day. I thought of my family members who were martyred during the civil war,” she said, her voice filled with both joy and sorrow. The change, however, is not without its complications. “We’re still hearing gunfire in the streets, and there have been reports of looting,” she added. With the city still reeling from the regime’s collapse, insecurity continues to plague certain neighbourhoods, with power outages and a harsh winter making life difficult for many.
While the celebrations continue, the reality of post-Assad Syria is dawning. The gunfire that once signalled victory has not stopped, and the immediate aftermath has been marked by uncertainty. The country’s infrastructure is in tatters, and the task of rebuilding will not be easy. Despite the challenges, however, Syrians are determined to move forward. There is a strong sense that this new beginning belongs to them, and with it, the potential for Syria to reclaim its former glory.
The road to recovery will be long, and it will not be without its obstacles. Yet, for the first time in over five decades, Syrians can look ahead to a future without Assad’s iron grip. The country’s immediate priority must now be the safe return of refugees and the healing of a nation torn apart by years of brutal conflict. As the smoke clears from the streets of Damascus, a fragile but hopeful future begins to take shape.
