Syrians poured into the streets of Damascus on Monday, December 9, celebrating what many are calling a historic turning point following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Assad fled to Russia on Sunday, December 8, after a swift offensive led by Islamist rebel forces toppled his government, effectively ending his family’s five-decade hold on power in Syria.

In Umayyad Square, jubilant crowds gathered alongside rebel fighters who had enforced a nighttime curfew across the capital. The atmosphere was electric, with people waving flags, honking car horns, and cheering. Some rebels marked the occasion by firing celebratory shots into the air.

“It feels like a dream—we never imagined this day would come,” said Rim Ramadan, a 49-year-old civil servant. “For 55 years, we lived in fear, unable to speak freely, even within our own homes. Today, we are reborn.”

While the square was filled with celebration, other parts of Damascus remained subdued as residents adjusted to the sudden power shift.

Assad’s fall comes after a brutal 14-year civil war that began with a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests. The conflict has left over 500,000 dead, displaced millions, and devastated Syria’s infrastructure. Assad, who inherited the presidency from his father, Hafez al-Assad, ruled with an iron grip, supported largely by Russia and Iran.

The regime’s collapse followed a rapid offensive by a coalition of rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist group. The coalition captured key cities, including Aleppo, Hama, Daraa, and Homs, before entering Damascus. The Syrian army and security forces crumbled, marking the end of Baath Party dominance.

Across the country, similar scenes of celebration unfolded. In Homs and other regions, residents flashed victory signs and expressed relief after years of oppression. Syrians living abroad also joined in, gathering in northern Lebanon and Istanbul to commemorate the end of Assad’s rule.

For many Syrians, the fall of Assad signifies more than the end of a dictatorship—it is the dawn of a new era filled with hope and the promise of rebuilding their nation.