Damascus’s joy and worry as people wonder: What happens after al-Assad?

Wed Dec 11 17:02:02 UTC 2024: ## Syrians Celebrate Assad’s Fall, but Concerns Remain Amidst HTS Presence

**DAMASCUS, SYRIA** – Syrians celebrated the end of Bashar al-Assad’s 53-year dynastic rule on Monday, thronging a formerly off-limits villa once used by the Assad family to express their relief and anger at the regime’s excesses. Al-Assad fled to Moscow on December 8th, leaving behind a legacy of brutal repression and widespread poverty.

Citizens freely entered the villa, marveling at its opulent interior and expressing outrage at the stark contrast between the Assad family’s lavish lifestyle and the abject poverty experienced by millions of Syrians. “The excessive luxury…these people living as rich people have no awareness of the poor,” stated Bakri al-Sahraa, a 58-year-old engineer, highlighting the disconnect between the ruling elite and the population. Others pointed to the “People’s Palace,” filled with Ferraris, as a symbol of the regime’s theft from the Syrian people.

While the mood was largely celebratory, with gunfire and singing in Umayyad Square, a palpable sense of unease also permeated the festivities. The rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main group involved in ousting al-Assad, and their establishment of checkpoints throughout Damascus, has created anxieties about the future. Many expressed hope for security under a new government, but fears about what the transition will bring remain.

One woman, Shizaa, described the initial fear and tension following the fighters’ entry into Damascus, which has slowly subsided, but lingering concerns about security persist. The celebration, therefore, is tinged with uncertainty as Syrians navigate a new era after decades of oppressive rule.