On December 8, 2024, Bashar Al-Assad fled the country and sought asylum in Russia, marking the end of the Syrian Civil War, which started during the Arab Spring. A 13 year-old civil war was brought to an end after 12 days of fighting between the Syrian Army and a coalition of rebel groups. For the first time since 2018, opposition groups were able to reach Damascus. Two lines, years apart: “Your turn has come, Doctor” in 2011 and “The turn is over, Doctor” in 2024.

Bashar al-Assad seized power in 2000 at just 34, even though the constitution required rulers to be at least 40. Officially, he claimed 97% support. But what meaning do laws and numbers truly hold? For 24 years, his rule closely resembled that of his father, who previously ruled for 30 years. Do the math—54 years of oppression.
During the war, over 350,000 Syrians were killed, and at least 13 million were displaced, making it the second-deadliest conflict of the 21st century. The Assad regime, an ally of Russia, has used censorship, state terror, mass deportations, chemical warfare, and massacred its people to maintain power. Families were torn apart, cities reduced to rubble, and generations grew up knowing only war.
Syrians who were released from prisons responded by paying a visit to Al-Assad’s house in Damascus, leaving them angry but far from surprised. While Assad lived in luxury, 14.5 million Syrians lived in poverty. Other Syrians who were forcefully displaced also celebrated the collapse of the regime all around the world. Celebrations spread from Lebanon to Turkey, Germany, Sweden, Madrid, and London. They carried the official flag of the Syrian rebels, which was first developed in the 1930s during the French mandate as a symbol for independence. Later, under the Assad regime, it was used to represent freedom.
But what will they do next? A survey by the UN Refugee Agency in June 2024 revealed that 57% of Syrians in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt still wanted to return home. On January 7th, 2025, the first commercial flight landed in Damascus, marking the return of many Syrian nationals who were coming back for the first time in more than a decade.
However, as highlighted by Human Rights Watch, only because one refugee chooses to return does not justify forcibly returning another who remains fearful, given the country’s conditions, which remain unstable and ambiguous. Equally concerning is the impact that the return of refugees will have on host countries. While some neighboring countries might welcome relief from the burden caused by the influx of refugees, others could face labor shortages. For instance, Europe’s largest economy, Germany, has warned that approximately 5,000 Syrian doctors currently working in medical facilities would be difficult to replace, especially given their fast-ageing population.
While the fall of the Assad regime will likely bring a new regional alignment that is perhaps fraught with uncertainty, it is important to remember that liberation in Syria is not merely a political shift but rather a symbol of hope and resilience. In this moment, we are reminded to pause and truly be present.
To all the Syrians out there—may your hearts know the freedom you’ve longed for, today and forevermore.
Featured image provided by NewstalkZB.