Aleppo’s Liberation: Symbols of Change

In Aleppo’s city center, the huge billboard in the main square featuring a picture of President Bashar al-Assad—a common feature in any Syrian town or village—was set on fire and then removed.

The red, white, and black national flags that once decorated the lampposts were also taken down and replaced with what is known as the “independence flag.” Further down the road, outside the city hall, a giant banner with a photo of Assad was removed; another banner, riddled with bullet holes, remained for reasons unclear.

Across Aleppo, residents and the new authorities appear eager to eliminate symbols of the Assad regime. Bashar had come to power in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez, who ruled for 29 years.

This is the first major city captured by Islamist-led rebels earlier this month during their astonishing offensive that overthrew Assad and brought freedom to the country after five decades of oppression—at least for now.

One of the first acts of the rebels was to topple a large equestrian statue of the late Bassel al-Assad, Bashar’s brother. A statue of Hafez was also vandalized.

Once a bustling commercial hub, Aleppo witnessed and was ravaged by intense battles between opposition fighters and government forces during the civil war, which began in 2011 after Assad brutally repressed peaceful protests against him.

Thousands were killed, and tens of thousands more fled.

Now, with Assad gone, many are returning from other parts of Syria and even abroad.

“When the regime fell, we could raise our heads,” said 80-year-old Mahmoud Ali, who left when fighting intensified in 2012. He moved with his family to Idlib in Syria’s northwest, which until two weeks ago was a rebel enclave run by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that led the anti-Assad offensive.

“Repression is what I saw all my life in the hands of the Assad family. Anyone demanding any rights would be sent to jail. We protested because there was a lot of repression, especially against us, the poor people.”

His daughter, 45-year-old Samar, is among millions of Syrians who have only known their country under Assad rule.

“Until recently, nobody dared to speak up because of the terror of the regime,” she said.

“Our children were deprived of everything. They didn’t have a childhood.”

It is remarkable that such feelings are now being shared openly in a country where opposition was not tolerated. The secret police, known as the Mukhabarat, were pervasive, spying on everyone, and critics often disappeared or were sent to jail, where they were tortured or killed.

Across Aleppo, the new authorities have installed billboards showing chains around two wrists with the message: “Freeing detainees is a debt upon our necks.”

Aleppo During the War

In 2013, Aleppo was divided into two parts. The western side of the city was trapped by Islamic State fighters and opposition forces. Hundreds of bombs were dropped on western Aleppo, cutting off food supplies as residents who supported Assad were prohibited from accessing basic necessities.

The eastern side of the city and its surrounding countryside were controlled by ISIS and opposition forces. Borders between Aleppo and neighboring countries such as Turkey and Lebanon were sealed. Even borders between Aleppo and other Syrian cities were closed due to ISIS control. Water was scarce, and electricity and internet services were non-existent.

A New Era, with Uncertainty

Many Syrians are celebrating the stunning and unexpected political shift, which has caught much of the world off guard.

However, the change in power is also clouded by uncertainty. The structure of a new governing system in Syria remains unclear. Questions linger about how it will function given the disparate groups and interests involved and whether the reordering of power will lead to further instability.

HTS leader Jolani has gone to great lengths to reassure Christian and Kurdish Syrians as his offensive spread across the country. However, HTS has a history of harsh treatment toward political enemies, and there are questions about whether this outreach will continue once the international spotlight fades.

Approximately 250,000 people have returned from countries of asylum, and most are in need of assistance, as their homes were destroyed during the war. This is where the international community has a role to play, especially as winter sets in. Your support can make a significant impact, contributing to the restoration of life in this beautiful city.