Thousands of Syrians have flocked to the streets of the capital, Damascus, and other cities to celebrate the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. In Damascus, people gathered at the Umayyad Mosque to pray before joyful demonstrations called by Islamist groups that led the armed uprising against Assad.
Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who switched to using his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, after the war, urged Syrians on Friday to ‘take to the streets to express their joy’ to celebrate the ‘victory of the blessed revolution.’ Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia on Sunday after the regime created 50 years ago by his father, Hafez al-Assad, collapsed in just a few days.
There was a party atmosphere in Umayyad Square in Damascus. Loudspeakers were set up, and the music ‘Raise your head, you are Syrian’ played.
People waved the flag of the Syrian opposition and chanted revolutionary songs and slogans. Among them were people dressed in black combat fatigues, carrying armor and weapons. They were members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Some paused to pose for photographs with civilians. One of them took out a piece of paper and began reciting a poem praising the country.
A university student living in Damascus but originally from Daraa, which the opposition considers the birthplace of the revolution, said Syrians gathered on Friday to celebrate and will continue to build the future "hand in hand".
"We are gathering because we are happy that Syria is liberated; we are happy that we are free from the prison we were living in," said another participant.
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