A man captures a selfie with his family atop a tank, celebrating in Damascus on December 9, 2024. — AFP

On Monday, Syrians gathered in the capital's main square, as observed by AFP journalists, to commemorate what many view as a long-anticipated new beginning following the fall of President Bashar Al Assad. An aggressive offensive led by Islamist rebels led to Assad's ousting on Sunday, marking a new era in Syria's history after five decades of rule by his family. The Kremlin declined to confirm reports on Monday that Assad had fled to Moscow. AFP journalists witnessed fighters deployed in Damascus's Umayyad Square as jubilant residents gathered there after a rebel-imposed nighttime curfew in the city.

"It's indescribable, we never thought this nightmare would end, we are reborn," said 49-year-old Rim Ramadan, a finance ministry civil servant, to AFP from the square in the heart of the capital. "We were afraid for 55 years of speaking, even at home, we used to say the walls had ears," Ramadan added, as people honked their car horns and rebels fired their guns into the air. "We feel like we're living a dream," she said.

The end of Assad's rule comes after a 13-year civil war ignited by a harsh crackdown on pro-democracy protests. The conflict claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced half of the pre-war population, with millions fleeing abroad. Assad inherited from his father, Hafez Al Assad, a regime where dissenters could be jailed or killed.

"I came out today, and I thank God... there is nothing to fear," said Abdelmonem Naqli, 40. "We just hope that the economy will get back on track, and everything will go well," he added. Some neighborhoods were deserted, and many shops remained closed even after the curfew was lifted. Public institutions and schools were closed, with fighters deployed near the central bank.

"Thank God, we have been set free," said Aamer Al Debass, 61. "Now, we are waiting for things to get better bit by bit," he added. Assad's alliances with Russia and Iran kept him in power despite widespread protests and armed rebellion. However, on November 27, a coalition of rebels led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir Al Sham launched an offensive that swept through the country, capturing city after city until they reached Damascus on Sunday. In a few days, the army and security forces' grip weakened, and rebels took control of major cities like Aleppo, Hama, and Homs before entering the capital, ending decades of Baath party rule.

Source link:   https://www.khaleejtimes.com