Syrians gathered in their thousands at Damascus’ main square on Monday, 9 December, celebrating what many see as a historic milestone following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.
Assad fled to Russia on Sunday, 8 December, after a swift offensive by Islamist rebels toppled his regime, ending his family’s five-decade dominance over Syria’s leadership.
At Umayyad Square, jubilant residents celebrated alongside rebel fighters, who had imposed a nighttime curfew across the capital. Crowds waved flags, honked car horns, and cheered, while some fighters fired shots into the air in celebration.
“It’s indescribable. We never thought this nightmare would end. We are reborn,” said Rim Ramadan, a 49-year-old civil servant at the finance ministry. “For 55 years, we were afraid to speak, even at home. We used to say the walls had ears. We feel like we’re living a dream.”
While many parts of the city erupted in celebration, some neighbourhoods remained quiet, with residents cautious amidst the sudden power shift.
The fall of Assad’s regime marks the conclusion of a brutal 14-year civil war, which began with the violent suppression of pro-democracy protests. The conflict claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced millions, many of whom fled Syria altogether.
Assad had inherited an authoritarian system from his father, Hafez al-Assad, characterised by relentless suppression of dissent. Despite years of uprisings and rebellion, Assad had clung to power with significant support from Russia and Iran.
On 27 November, a coalition of rebel forces, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, launched a sweeping offensive. They rapidly captured key cities, including Aleppo, Hama, Daraa, and Homs, before advancing into Damascus. The swift collapse of the Syrian army and security forces marked the end of decades of Baath Party rule.
Similar scenes of celebration unfolded in the central city of Homs and other regions, with residents flashing victory signs and expressing relief after years of fear and repression. Syrians living abroad joined in the celebrations, with gatherings reported in northern Lebanon and Istanbul to mark the end of Assad’s rule.
For many Syrians, this moment symbolises more than the fall of a regime. It represents the beginning of a long-awaited chapter of hope, freedom, and the opportunity to rebuild their nation.
