The Syrian Civil Defense, once only able to operate in opposition-held territory, deployed its 3,300 volunteers across most of the country as the Assad regime fell. What comes next for the rescue organization?
Christians in Damascus prepare for the Christmas holiday with a mixture of hope for a new Syria and wariness about the country’s leadership.
Elation at the hope of returning home after Assad fell turned to shock for displaced Homs residents who found massive destruction and nonexistent services in areas they fled. Many turned back to northwestern Syria, waiting for reconstruction.
With a newfound sense of collective ownership, Syrian volunteers clean streets, work to protect heritage sites and make meals for freed detainees and overworked doctors.
Syrian relief organizations have raced to respond to needs on the ground following the collapse of the Assad regime, while international organizations and major donors remain largely paralyzed.
Damascus residents speak with a new tone, using new words, as entrenched fears unravel with the fall of the Assad regime. Still, concerns remain about what awaits in a new Syria.
In the chaotic, jubilant process of emptying Assad’s prisons—including the notorious Saydnaya on the outskirts of Damascus—misinformation has spread and crucial evidence has been tampered with, SNHR’s Nour al-Khatib tells Syria Direct.
As HTS promises a new approach, Christians in Aleppo city are weighing assurances of protection against difficult memories. As opposition forces took control over the weekend, some fled, fearing the worst from Islamist factions.
Idlib’s Paralympics—cut short by the HTS-backed Salvation Government—were a welcome outlet for hundreds of disabled people of all ages in northwestern Syria, breaking social isolation and boosting self-confidence.
Countryside roads in SDF-controlled northeastern Syria are a hunting ground for armed robbers targeting civilians and humanitarian workers. Repeated security incidents limit residents’ freedom of movement and cut into organizations’ limited funding.
