Syrians Mark Regime’s Collapse with Widespread Celebrations

Large numbers of Syrians gathered in the streets of Damascus, the capital, and various other cities to commemorate the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Within Damascus, individuals convened at the renowned Umayyad Mosque for prayers, preceding the celebratory gatherings initiated by the Islamist rebels who spearheaded the armed rebellion against Assad. Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, a leader of the rebels, now identified by his actual name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, had encouraged Syrians “to go to the streets to express their joy” on Friday, signifying “the victory of the blessed revolution”. Assad departed for Russia on Sunday, following the swift collapse of the regime established by his father five decades prior, which disintegrated over a mere few turbulent days. Umayyad Square in Damascus was filled with a festive ambiance. Loudspeakers were installed, broadcasting music that included the song “Raise your head high, you are Syrian.” Individuals brandished the Syrian opposition flag and vocalized revolutionary anthems and catchphrases. Present in the crowd were men dressed in black combat attire, equipped with body armour and firearms. These individuals belonged to the rebel organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). A few stopped to pose for photographs with civilians. One individual produced a sheet of paper and began reciting a poem he had composed in tribute to the nation. Sara al-Zobi, a university student residing in Damascus but hailing from Deraa – a city considered by the opposition to be the genesis of the revolution – stated that Syrians had assembled to celebrate on Friday and would continue to construct the future “hand-in hand”. “We are gathering because we’re happy Syria has been freed, we’re happy to have been liberated from the prison in which we lived,” commented Nour Thi al-Ghina, another attendee. Separated from the festive gatherings, grieving families sought the remains of relatives who had vanished over the last ten years within the infamous detention facilities of the Assad regime. Inside a morgue located in central Damascus, certain individuals displayed photographs of their kin, attempting to match them with the bodies contained in bags before them. While some successfully identified their missing fathers, brothers, or sons, others departed in tears, having found no indications of their loved ones. The morgue contained numerous bodies that had been moved from Saydnaya prison, a place commonly referred to locally as a human slaughterhouse. Aslan Ibrahim, a forensic expert at the hospital, stated: “All of the bodies had clear signs of malnourishment, they were so skinny.” He further mentioned that a journalist’s body exhibited indications of torture, elaborating: “His arm was broken, and his leg too, he also had a lot of bruises.” Significant locations belonging to the extensive network of intelligence agencies, which for decades sought to violently suppress opposition movements, are situated along the central thoroughfares of the Syrian capital. Within the basement of the state security headquarters, located in the Kafr Sousa district of the city, numerous small cells are arranged in rows – each measuring merely two metres by one metre and secured by robust steel doors. Inside, the grimy walls bear dark stains. Individuals held captive could be confined in these cells for extended periods, undergoing interrogation and torture. These cells are situated just beneath street level, adjacent to a bustling road where thousands of ordinary Syrians routinely passed by, conducting their daily routines mere meters from where their fellow citizens were being held and subjected to torture. The General Intelligence Directorate, another component of Syria’s erstwhile network of espionage organizations, is located nearby. A vast quantity of records exists, serving as proof of the Assad regime’s past surveillance of its populace. Cabinets contain numerous rows of paper files, and in certain rooms, notebooks are piled from the floor to the ceiling. Adjacent to this is a computer server room. The floors and walls are immaculately white, and black data storage units emit a low hum. Although electricity has been disconnected across large parts of Damascus, this particular facility appears to have been deemed vital enough to possess its independent power source.