Aleppo: The First Major City to Fall to Syrian Rebel Forces

The prominent billboard featuring President Bashar al-Assad, a common sight in Syrian towns and villages, located in Aleppo’s main square, was first set ablaze and subsequently taken down. National flags, characterized by their red, white, and black colors, were removed from lampposts and substituted with the “independence flag.” Near the city hall, a large banner displaying Assad’s photograph was dismantled; another banner, inexplicably retained, showed his face perforated by bullets. Throughout Aleppo, both inhabitants and the newly established authorities appeared keen to eliminate all symbols associated with the Assad family; Bashar assumed power in 2000 following the demise of his father, Hafez, who had governed for 29 years. The author’s initial visit to Aleppo as a student in 2008 revealed numerous banners depicting Assad’s face in public squares, on streets, and on government structures; these now appeared to have been either taken down or obliterated. Aleppo became the first major city seized by Islamist-led rebels earlier this month, marking a significant offensive that led to Assad’s overthrow and, at least temporarily, introduced freedom to the nation after five decades of oppression. Among their initial actions was the demolition of a substantial equestrian statue honoring Bassel, the former president’s deceased brother; a statue of Hafez also suffered vandalism. Formerly a vibrant commercial center, Aleppo endured and was devastated by fierce engagements between opposition combatants and government troops during the civil war, which commenced in 2011 following Assad’s brutal suppression of peaceful demonstrations against his rule. Thousands of individuals perished, and tens of thousands more sought refuge elsewhere. Currently, with Assad no longer in power, numerous people are returning from other regions of Syria and from overseas. In the early stages of the conflict, East Aleppo, a rebel stronghold, faced a siege by regime-loyal forces and experienced heavy Russian bombardment. Government forces recaptured it in 2016, an achievement then viewed as a pivotal moment in the conflict. Even now, structures remain ruined, and accumulations of debris await removal. The re-establishment of Assad’s forces rendered it excessively perilous for those who had departed to return, a situation that has now changed. Mahmoud Ali, aged 80, stated, “When the regime fell, we could raise our heads.” He departed in 2012 as the fighting in the area escalated. He relocated with his family to Idlib, situated in the country’s north-west, which, until two weeks prior, served as the rebel enclave in Syria, administered by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the organization that spearheaded the anti-Assad offensive. He further commented, “Repression is what I saw all my life in the hands of the Assad family. Anyone demanding any rights would be sent to jail. We protested because there was a lot of repression, especially on us, the poor people.” His daughter, Samar, 45, represents one of millions in Syria whose entire lives have been under the rule of the Assads. She remarked, “Up until, nobody dared to speak up because of the terror of the regime. Our children were deprived of everything. They didn’t have their childhood.” The open expression of these sentiments was noteworthy in a nation where dissent was not permitted; the secret police, identified as the Mukhabarat, appeared omnipresent, monitoring all citizens, and critics faced disappearance or imprisonment, often enduring torture and death. Throughout Aleppo, the new authorities erected billboards depicting chains around two wrists, bearing the message, “Freeing detainees is a debt upon our necks.” Samar observed, “We’re happy, but there’s still fear. Why are we still afraid? Why isn’t our happiness full? It’s because of the fear they [the regime] planted inside us.” Her brother, Ahmed, concurred, stating, “You could be sent to jail for saying simple things. I’m happy, but I’m still concerned. But we’ll never live under repression again.” His father interjected to affirm his agreement, saying, “That’s impossible.” The family resided in a compact apartment characterized by intermittent electricity and a lack of heating. Upon their return, they, like many others in the area, found themselves uncertain of their next steps. It is estimated that over 90% of Syria’s population lives in poverty, and wider apprehensions exist regarding the governance of the country by HTS, which originated as an al-Qaeda affiliate. A neighboring resident declared, “No-one could take away my happiness. I still can’t believe that we came back. May God protect those who took the country back.” In the main square, a man expressed, “I really hope we get it right, and there isn’t a return to violence and oppression.” Inside Mahmoud Ali’s apartment, an “independence flag,” featuring three red stars centrally placed, had been sketched on white paper and positioned on the living room coffee table. Samar, one of his daughters, confided, “We still can’t believe that Assad is gone.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.