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| Umayyad Square in Damascus had a party-like atmosphere with music and celebrations |
Thousands of Syrians flooded the streets of Damascus and other cities to celebrate the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, marking a new chapter in the country’s tumultuous history.
In Damascus, people gathered at the famous Umayyad Mosque to pray before joining the festive rallies led by the Islamist rebels who had fought against Assad’s forces. The city, once under the tight grip of the regime, was now filled with waves of excitement and hope. Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, now using his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, had called on Syrians to “take to the streets to express their joy” on Friday to celebrate “the victory of the blessed revolution.” His call was answered by people of all backgrounds, united in their celebration.
The fall of Assad’s regime came swiftly when he fled to Russia on Sunday. The once formidable regime, established by his father fifty years ago, crumbled in mere days, triggering massive celebrations across Syria. Umayyad Square in Damascus became a focal point for revelers, filled with cheers and chanting as loudspeakers played patriotic songs like “Raise Your Head High, You Are Syrian.” The crowd waved the Syrian opposition flag and sang revolutionary anthems, marking the moment as one of liberation.
Amid the celebrations, men in black combat gear, wearing body armor and carrying weapons, were visible. These were members of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and they stood as symbols of the resistance that led to Assad’s downfall. Some fighters stopped to pose for photos with civilians, while one recited poetry in praise of Syria, further fueling the atmosphere of triumph.
Sara al-Zobi, a university student from Damascus originally from Deraa—the city considered the birthplace of the revolution—said Syrians were united not only in celebration but in the determination to rebuild their future. "We are here because we are happy that Syria has been freed. We are happy to have been liberated from the prison we lived in," said Nour Thi al-Ghina, another participant, echoing the sentiments of many in the crowd.
However, not all were caught up in the festive mood. Away from the celebrations, families who had lost loved ones in the regime’s notorious prisons were searching for their missing relatives. At a mortuary in central Damascus, some held up photographs of their loved ones, hoping to find them among the bodies laid out in bags. For some, the search ended in reunion with their fathers, brothers, or sons. For others, the grief of not finding any answers left them heartbroken.
Many of the bodies in the mortuary had been transferred from Saydnaya prison, a site infamous for its brutal treatment of detainees. Forensic expert Aslan Ibrahim pointed out signs of extreme malnutrition and emaciation in the bodies. One body, identified as a journalist, showed clear signs of torture, including broken bones and bruises, underscoring the horrors that many Syrians had suffered under Assad’s rule.
The remnants of the regime’s oppressive surveillance state could still be found in the heart of Damascus. The state security headquarters in the Kafr Sousa district held tiny, claustrophobic cells, just two meters by one meter, where detainees were kept in brutal conditions for months. The walls of these cells were stained, remnants of the torture that took place within them. Nearby, the General Intelligence Directorate was filled with rows of paper files and notebooks, documenting the extensive surveillance network that had kept Syrians under constant watch.
Despite widespread power cuts across the city, a server room at the intelligence facility remained functional, powered by a backup supply. This served as a stark reminder of the enduring legacy of Assad’s infrastructure and the reach of his regime’s control.
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