The primary metropolis to fall into the palms of Syrian rebels

In downtown Aleppo, the large billboard in the primary sq. with a photograph of President Bashar al-Assad, which was as soon as a characteristic of each Syrian metropolis and village, was set on hearth after which eliminated.

The crimson, white and black nationwide flags that embellished the lamp posts have been additionally eliminated and changed with the so-called “independence flag”. On the finish of the road, in entrance of metropolis corridor, an enormous banner with a photograph of Assad was eliminated; one other had his face riddled with bullets and, for some cause, he was being held there.

Throughout Aleppo, residents and new authorities appeared desirous to do away with something that symbolized Assad: Bashar got here to energy in 2000 after the loss of life of his father Hafez, who dominated for 29 years.

I first arrived in Aleppo as a pupil, in 2008, and banners with Assad’s face have been clearly seen in public squares, streets and authorities buildings; all appeared to have both been eliminated or destroyed.

It was the primary main metropolis captured by Islamist rebels earlier this month, throughout their gorgeous offensive that toppled Assad and introduced freedom to this nation after 5 many years of oppression – at the very least for now.

One of many first issues they did was to topple a big equestrian statue of the previous president. late brother, Bassel; a statue of Hafez was additionally vandalized.

As soon as a bustling industrial heart, Aleppo witnessed, and was ravaged by, intense combating between opposition fighters and authorities forces in the course of the civil conflict, which started in 2011 when Assad brutally suppressed protests peaceable in opposition to him.

Hundreds of individuals have been killed. Tens of hundreds extra have fled.

Now that Assad is gone, many return, from other parts of Syria and even from abroad.

At first of the conflict, japanese Aleppo, a insurgent stronghold, was besieged by forces loyal to the regime and suffered intense Russian bombardment. In 2016, government forces recovered it, a victory then considered a turning point in the conflict.

To this present day, buildings stay destroyed and piles of rubble wait to be cleared. With Assad’s forces returning, it was too dangerous for many who had fled to return – till now.

“When the regime fell, we have been in a position to elevate our heads,” stated Mahmoud Ali, 80. He left when combating intensified in 2012. He moved together with his household to Idlib, within the northwest of the nation, which till two weeks in the past was the insurgent enclave in Syria, led by Hayat Tahrir al -Sham (HTS), the group that led the anti-Assad offensive.

“Repression is what I’ve stated all my life within the palms of the Assad household. Anybody who demanded rights could be despatched to jail. We protested as a result of there was quite a lot of repression, particularly in opposition to us, the poor.”

His daughter, Samar, 45, is one in every of tens of millions of Syrians who’ve solely recognized the Assad regime.

“Till now, nobody dared to talk out due to the regime’s terror,” she stated.

“Our kids have been disadvantaged of all the things. They did not have their childhood.”

It’s exceptional that these sentiments have been shared so freely in a rustic the place opposition was not tolerated; the key police, generally known as the Mukhabarat, appeared to be all over the place and spying on everybody, and critics disappeared or have been despatched to jail, the place they have been tortured and killed.

All through Aleppo, the brand new authorities have put in billboards depicting chains round two wrists saying: “Releasing detainees is a debt on our neck.”

“We’re completely satisfied, however there’s nonetheless concern,” Samar stated. “Why are we nonetheless afraid? Why is our happiness not full? It is due to the concern they’ve.” [the regime] planted in us.”

His brother, Ahmed, agreed. “You may be despatched to jail for saying easy issues. I am completely satisfied, however I am nonetheless nervous. However we’ll by no means dwell underneath repression once more.”

His father intervened, to agree with him. “It’s unimaginable.”

The household lived in a small house, the place electrical energy was intermittent and heating non-existent.

Now that they have been again, they did not know what to do, like many others right here. Greater than 90% of Syria’s inhabitants is estimated to dwell in poverty, and there are broader considerations about how HTS, which began as an affiliate of Al-Qaedawill lead the nation.

A lady who lived in a close-by house stated: “Nobody can take away my happiness. I nonetheless cannot imagine we got here again. Could God shield those that took again the nation.

In the primary sq., a person instructed me: “I actually hope that we succeed and that there isn’t any return to violence and oppression. »

In Mahmoud Ali’s house, a “flag of independence”, with its 4 crimson stars within the center, had been drawn on white paper and positioned on the espresso desk in the lounge.

Samar, one in every of his daughters, instructed me: “We nonetheless cannot imagine Assad is gone. »