“Nobody slept”: how the information of the autumn of Bashar al-Assad unfold

Residents of Damascus stated they have been anxiously awaiting information of what occurred in a single day within the Syrian capital.

After a number of hours of studies that the rebels have been transferring ever nearer, forces declared Damascus “free” from longtime chief Bashar al-Assad within the early hours of Sunday.

Unverified movies circulating on social media present individuals cheering within the streets and welcoming insurgent fighters, in addition to inmates launched from the infamous Saydnaya jail.

“Nobody slept in Syria final night time… no Syrians overseas slept,” stated Rania Kataf, who runs the People of Damascus Fb web page.

“The entire group was holding their telephones ready for the most recent information.

“How do I really feel? Overwhelmed… All of us really feel like we've been underwater, actually, for 13 years, and all of us simply breathed.

“And I do know there are such a lot of individuals a lot older than me who’ve been by means of an excessive amount of.”

She stated she had “blended emotions” because the insurgent teams' offensive started, however was now not afraid.

Previously, she stated, she was “afraid to share an opinion, I used to be so afraid to place a like, to place a coronary heart on somebody from the opposition.”

Danny Makki, a journalist residing in Damascus, described the scenes Sunday morning in Umayyad Sq., dwelling to key authorities businesses together with the Protection Ministry and the Syrian armed forces.

“Folks have been capturing within the air, dancing, taking footage and crying,” he stated.

“I spoke to troopers from the militia. One in every of them stated he had been making ready for this for a very long time.

“He was not participating within the offensive in Aleppo, however when he noticed the rebels arriving on the gates of Damascus, that’s when he took up arms.”

He added that some insurgent fighters have been utilizing deserted Syrian military autos.

“As I used to be driving round Damascus, I noticed the Syrian military strolling in civilian garments on the highway, not realizing the place to go.”

Though there are celebrations, he stated the individuals's quick concern is safety and “guaranteeing that there isn’t any infighting throughout the opposition ranks.” .

One other Damascus resident, who requested to stay nameless, advised the BBC: “For the primary time ever there’s a actual feeling of freedom.”

“What we really feel is de facto much like what we felt through the revolution when it began in 2011. It’s a continuation of a dream that began that 12 months.”

He stated Syrians felt concern and fear in regards to the future, however “at the moment all of the Syrian individuals will solely have a good time.”

Additional south, Yazan Al Amari runs a small cellphone store within the metropolis of Daraa, which civilian militias affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have already taken management of.

He advised the BBC he was touring with mates to the Syrian capital at the moment to have a good time.

“Once we awoke and noticed the information, at first we couldn't perceive or grasp it fully. Folks have been very afraid of the rumors.

“However after we realized it was true, we acquired in our vehicles and now we’re on our approach to Damascus to have a good time.”

“Folks felt like they have been in a dream,” he stated.

“You may see individuals crying. We have been very scared till at the moment.”

Al Amari says that is the primary time in a few years that he has been capable of converse freely.

“Earlier than, I couldn't depart my small city or transfer round freely. However now I can go wherever I would like,” he stated.

However many individuals concern the unknowns of the long run.

A Syrian man in London advised me of his fears for his household residing within the coastal area of Syria.

“We’re Japanese Orthodox Christians, I’m afraid my household can be massacred,” stated the person, who requested to stay nameless.

“Everyone seems to be in panic mode. They’re looking for a approach to depart the nation.”

His household is making ready to go away Syria, however the borders with Lebanon and Jordan are closed.

“The luggage are packed, we’re simply ready to see if one of many airports would open a flight to neighboring international locations. Or if the land borders would enable particular teams to go away Syria,” he stated.

“It’s a incontrovertible fact that individuals are celebrating this out of concern,” he stated.

“They occasion as a result of they’re afraid of being massacred in the event that they don't fake to be excited. On the one hand, we’re all completely happy that the regime is gone, on the opposite, we don't know not the end result of the battle. In spite of everything, this insurgent group is an offshoot of Al-Qaeda.

The group that took management of a lot of the nation, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, stated Christians have been secure.

“We simply don’t understand how true that assertion is,” he stated.

Further reporting by Wietske Burema