Syrian Families in UK Anticipate Reunions Following Assad Regime’s Collapse

Mohammed Zain Alfaisal’s children are soon to meet their grandparents in Syria for the first time, an event he stated he had “never imagined would come”. Mr. Alfaisal, who became a refugee from Syria 14 years ago and established residence in Greater Manchester, had previously expressed that he “lost hope” of the Bashar al-Assad regime’s collapse in his native country. This development follows rebel forces taking control of Damascus on Sunday, prompting the former president to flee, and leading to hundreds of Syrians convening in Manchester city centre for celebrations. Mr. Alfaisal is currently arranging a journey back to Syria, stating: “We need to rebuild our country. We need to focus on teaching our kids forgiveness.” His parents and a cousin stayed in Syria during the years of civil war. This situation arose after the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allied rebel factions initiated a significant offensive in north-western Syria twelve days prior, rapidly securing Aleppo before advancing south towards the capital, Damascus, amidst the military’s collapse. On Sunday morning, HTS and its allies announced that “the tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled.” Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Mr. Alfaisal commented: “We don’t need blood in Syria anymore. “The people in Syria want dignity, they want freedom.” Mr. Alfaisal was one of hundreds of Syrians present at a celebration held in St Peter’s Square on Sunday. Dr. Yasmine Nahlawi, representing the Manchester-based charity Rethink Rebuild Society, which organized the event, stated: “As a Syrian community, we are feeling a mix of… very very powerful emotions – joy and celebration.” She added: “But also… we are mourning the loss of people who didn’t see this day.” Rama Terkmani, who departed Syria with her family at age six, a year after the conflict began, initially moved to Egypt before settling in Liverpool, where they have resided for nearly a decade. Now 19 and pursuing medical studies at the University of Central Lancashire, she reported losing several family members during the war and having a cousin detained by the Assad regime. She remarked: “We don’t know if he’s alive or if he’s not alive. We don’t know anything.” Ms. Terkmani expressed a desire to return to her native city of Damascus but also conveyed gratitude for her life in the UK. She further commented: “This country supported me a lot with education, mental health issues.”