In the aftermath of the swift rebel victory, thousands of Syrians are returning to their homes, confronting destruction while feeling a rekindled sense of freedom and hope.
With Assad Out, Homs Residents Face Ruins and Renewed Hope
With Assad Out, Homs Residents Face Ruins and Renewed Hope
The recent fall of President Bashar al-Assad has sparked a surge of emotions among returnees to Homs, revisiting the devastation left behind.
As families rebuild amid the rubble, memories and sorrows resurface.
As Abdulrahman Alama crossed the threshold of his family home in the battered neighborhood of Baba Amr, he couldn’t help but voice his astonishment at the extensive damage. After 13 years as a refugee in Lebanon, he returned to Homs only a week following Bashar al-Assad’s downfall. “It’s shocking, really shocking,” he declared, painfully aware of what his father had lost at home. “I don’t want to send a photo to my father because it is too shocking.”
Thousands of Syrian citizens, including refugees and others who were internally displaced or imprisoned, are beginning to return to their hometowns just days after a rapid rebel offensive ended Assad’s presidency. Cheers and tears fill the streets as former residents echo prayers of gratitude while expressing resentment toward their former leader.
Homs, an ancient city known for its pivotal role in the fight against Assad's regime since the 2011 uprising, suffered immense destruction during his regime's ruthless tactics to maintain control. The scars of the conflict are evident, with many areas lying in ruins and neighborhoods like Baba Amr bearing significant marks of assault.
As rebels clashed with Assad’s forces, Homs became synonymous with resistance, embodying the heart of a struggle that tested the spirit of its residents. Although confronting the remnants of their lost homes is difficult, there is a prevailing sentiment of relief and hope among those who have returned.
As Abdulrahman Alama crossed the threshold of his family home in the battered neighborhood of Baba Amr, he couldn’t help but voice his astonishment at the extensive damage. After 13 years as a refugee in Lebanon, he returned to Homs only a week following Bashar al-Assad’s downfall. “It’s shocking, really shocking,” he declared, painfully aware of what his father had lost at home. “I don’t want to send a photo to my father because it is too shocking.”
Thousands of Syrian citizens, including refugees and others who were internally displaced or imprisoned, are beginning to return to their hometowns just days after a rapid rebel offensive ended Assad’s presidency. Cheers and tears fill the streets as former residents echo prayers of gratitude while expressing resentment toward their former leader.
Homs, an ancient city known for its pivotal role in the fight against Assad's regime since the 2011 uprising, suffered immense destruction during his regime's ruthless tactics to maintain control. The scars of the conflict are evident, with many areas lying in ruins and neighborhoods like Baba Amr bearing significant marks of assault.
As rebels clashed with Assad’s forces, Homs became synonymous with resistance, embodying the heart of a struggle that tested the spirit of its residents. Although confronting the remnants of their lost homes is difficult, there is a prevailing sentiment of relief and hope among those who have returned.
