Syrian rescuers have conducted searches at a prison infamous for the atrocities linked to ousted president Bashar al-Assad’s regime, while people in the capital gathered in a central square to celebrate their nation’s newfound freedom.
Mr. Assad left the country as Islamist-led rebels advanced into the capital, marking a dramatic conclusion to five decades of oppressive rule by his family over a nation devastated by one of the worst wars of the century.
He oversaw a violent crackdown on a democracy movement that began in 2011, igniting a conflict that resulted in 500,000 deaths and displaced half of the population from their homes.
At the center of the governance that Mr. Assad inherited from his father Hafez was a brutal network of prisons and detention facilities used to stifle dissent by imprisoning those suspected of diverging from the ruling Baath party’s ideology.
“We are doing everything in our power to reach a new hope, and we must also brace ourselves for the worst,” the organization stated.
Syrians toppled a statue of Hafez al-Assad in Damascus
While Syria has endured a 13-year war, the government’s downfall transpired in a matter of days, following a rapid offensive by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
HTS, rooted in Syria’s branch of Al-Qaeda, is designated as a terrorist organization by Western governments.
It remains uncertain how HTS will function now that Mr. Assad is no longer in power, but it has made efforts to soften its image and reassure Syria’s diverse religious minorities that they should not fear.
In central Damascus, amid the uncertainties of the future, the atmosphere was filled with euphoria.
“It’s beyond description; we never imagined this nightmare would end, we feel reborn,” said Rim Ramadan, a 49-year-old civil servant at the finance ministry, speaking to AFP.
“For 55 years, we were afraid to speak, even at home. We used to say that the walls had ears,” Ms. Ramadan added, as people honked their horns and rebels fired celebratory shots into the air.
“It feels like we are living in a dream.”
Syrian refugees in Turkey wait in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering Syria
‘Historic opportunity’
During the offensive that commenced on 27 November, rebels liberated city after city from Mr. Assad’s grasp, releasing thousands of inmates from prisons along the way, many imprisoned on political grounds.
Social media was abuzz with Syrians sharing photos of detainees reportedly freed from the dungeons, as part of a collective gesture to reunite families with loved ones, some of whom had been missing for years.
Others, like Fadwa Mahmoud, who is searching for her husband and son, posted pleas for assistance in locating them.
“Where are you, Maher and Abdel Aziz? I need to hear from you, oh God, please return and complete my joy,” wrote Ms. Mahmoud, a former detainee herself.
US President Joe Biden stated that Assad should be “held accountable,” calling his ouster “a historic opportunity” for the Syrian people.
“The fall of the regime represents an essential act of justice,” he declared.
However, he warned that hardline Islamist groups within the victorious rebel coalition would be scrutinized. “Some of the rebel factions responsible for toppling Assad have their own disturbing records of terrorism and human rights violations,” Mr. Biden remarked.
The United States has noted recent comments from the rebels signaling a more moderate approach, but Mr. Biden stated: “We will evaluate their actions, not just their words.”
Amnesty International urged accountability for those responsible for rights abuses, with its leader Agnes Callamard appealing to the forces that ousted Assad to “move away from the violence of the past.”
“Any political transition must ensure accountability for significant violations and guarantee that those accountable are prosecuted,” emphasized UN rights chief Volker Turk.
Syrians gather at Umayyad Square to celebrate the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s rule
Where is Assad?
How Mr. Assad may be brought to justice remains uncertain, especially after Russia denied reports from Russian news agencies that he had fled to Moscow.
The Syrian embassy in Moscow raised the opposition’s flag, while the Kremlin stated it would discuss the status of its bases in Syria with the newly established authorities.
Russia played a critical role in keeping Assad in power, directly intervening in the war starting in 2015 and providing air support to the army as it sought to defeat the rebellion.
Iran, another key ally, indicated that it anticipates maintaining its “friendly” relations with Syria, with its foreign minister stating the ousted president “never requested” assistance against the rebel wave.
Turkey, historically a supporter of the opposition, called for a new “inclusive” government in Syria, as the uncertainty of the situation began to take hold.
“It’s not just about the fall of Assad’s regime; it also raises the question of what will replace it,” said Aron Lund, an expert at the Century International think tank.
Read more: Why has Assad’s regime fallen now and what happens next? Syrian rebels oust Assad, seize control of Damascus Latest Middle East stories
While Syria’s war began with a suppression of democratic protests, it evolved over time, drawing in jihadists and foreign powers supporting conflicting factions.
Israel, which shares a border with Syria, deployed troops into a buffer zone following Mr. Assad’s fall, which Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described as a “limited and temporary measure.”
A Syria war monitor reported that Israel also conducted overnight strikes on Syrian military positions and depots in various locations across the country.
Meanwhile, in northern Syria, a Turkish drone strike on a Kurdish-controlled area resulted in the deaths of 11 civilians, six of whom were children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
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