Thousands of jubilant Syrians flooded the streets of Damascus to have fun the autumn of Bashar Assad’s regime, marking a historic turning level within the nation’s civil conflict.
This unprecedented scene unfolded in the course of the first Friday prayers for the reason that ouster of Assad, whose household had dominated with an iron fist for over 5 many years.
After a swift anti-regime offensive led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, Assad fled Syria, bringing an abrupt finish to a brutal period that claimed greater than 500,000 lives and displaced thousands and thousands.
On Friday, Syrians poured into the Umayyad Mosque, a logo of Damascus’ wealthy historical past, elevating the three-star Syrian independence flag that had been suppressed throughout Assad’s reign.
“We are happy to be free, liberated from the prison we lived in,” mentioned Nour Thi al-Ghina, 38, as she joined the celebratory crowd. “This is the first time we have come together in such numbers, witnessing such an event.”
Echoing the sentiment, Omar al-Khaled, 23, expressed hope for a brighter future.
Meanwhile, in Aleppo, as soon as a battleground, an enormous billboard of Assad and his father, Hafez Assad, was set ablaze by jubilant protesters.
“They oppressed us, but today we’ve freed our country from their injustice,” mentioned a white-bearded police officer, holding a crimson rose given to him by a baby.
In the southern metropolis of Sweida, the place anti-government protests had simmered for over a 12 months, celebrations erupted, with folks singing and dancing within the streets.
“Our joy is indescribable,” mentioned Haitham Hudeifa, 54, because the festive temper unfold throughout the nation.
Despite these celebrations, the worldwide group faces a fancy scenario.
The Group of Seven (G-7) nations have pledged assist for a “non-sectarian” authorities however have additionally emphasised the necessity to maintain Assad’s regime accountable for its crimes, notably human rights abuses.
In the aftermath of Assad’s downfall, Syrians are determined to uncover the fates of the various who vanished underneath his regime.
Families scour prisons, hospitals and morgues, hoping for solutions.
Abu Mohammed, desperately trying to find his lacking family, mentioned, “I turned the world upside down, but found nothing. We just want a hint of where they are.”
The departure of Assad has shifted regional dynamics.
While Russia and Iran had propped up Assad’s regime, anti-regime forces launched their ultimate offensive in late November, coinciding with a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Now, Israel and Türkiye have each launched navy actions inside Syria, with Israel occupying a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone within the Golan Heights, citing safety considerations.
In response to the scenario, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confused the significance of stopping additional conflicts and making certain Syria doesn’t grow to be a base for terrorism.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Minister introduced that Israeli troops are ready to stay within the buffer zone all through the winter, as air and naval strikes proceed to focus on Syrian navy belongings.
Amid these developments, Syrians face the tough realities of a war-torn nation grappling with sanctions, inflation, and a wrestle for fundamental requirements.
In a transfer to handle the dire humanitarian disaster, the European Union introduced the launch of an “air bridge” to ship 50 tonnes of well being provides to Syria.
Source: www.dailysabah.com