Aleppo Awakens: A New Era After Assad's Regime

In Aleppo, now liberated from the Assad regime, citizens joyfully dismantle symbols of oppression and express newfound freedom, though fears linger about the future. While many have begun to return home, the remnants of destruction and memories of repression weigh heavily on their minds.

Inside Aleppo, a city once defined by the Assad regime, transformative changes are evident as citizens jubilantly remove symbols of oppression. The smoking remains of a billboard featuring President Bashar al-Assad stand testament to the recent upheaval; nearby, the once-prominent red, white, and black flags have been taken down, replaced with the 'independence flag.' This upheaval is a sign of hope following years of tyrannical governance.

Aleppo is etched in history as the first major urban center to fall to Islamist-led rebels this month, marking a pivotal shift in the country's ongoing civil war that began in 2011. In the immediate wake of the regime’s downfall, iconic statues of the Assad family were destroyed or vandalized, signaling a newfound desire for liberation among the populace.

Once a thriving commercial epicenter, Aleppo became a battleground that ravaged the city, leading to massive loss of life and forcing many residents to seek refuge elsewhere. As Assad's forces have been ousted, the gradual return of those displaced is palpable. Mahmoud Ali, an 80-year-old who fled in 2012, now feels free to express his long-held resentment against decades of repression.

"Repression is what I say all my life in the hands of the Assad family," Mahmoud notes, reflecting on the painful history of silence that loomed over families like his. In contrast, his daughter, Samar, finds it surreal that she can now openly celebrate freedom after a lifetime under the shadow of fear.

Despite the liberating atmosphere, palpable apprehension lingers. A new regime now oversees the city — led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — which raises valid questions about future governance for the residents. As concerns about poverty and insecurity persist, many, like Samar, still wrestle with the scars of past traumas and the principal challenge of rebuilding their livelihoods.

Among the newfound expressions of freedom, many residents display makeshift independence flags, contributing to the hopeful aspirations of a prosperous future. However, the road ahead is filled with trepidation, leading residents to dream of a society free from the shackles of violence and oppression. The optimistic message on the freshly erected billboards — declaring a commitment to freeing detainees — may be accompanied by underlying fears about what lies around the corner.

As Alo, a local resident, aptly summarizes the mood, "We really hope we get it right, and there isn’t a return to violence and oppression.”