Assad’s Fall: Syrians Begin To Feel Mixed Emotions

Three days after the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Islamist rebels announced the appointment of one of their own to lead a transitional government before launching a constitutional process. On the streets of Damascus, joyous demonstrations following the regime’s fall continue, but the first questions are also emerging.

According to our report today, there is joy and doubt on the streets of Damascus after the fall of Assad in Syria.

“I have faith in these rebels because they sacrificed their lives to overthrow Assad,” she said. “Before, we were under the control of a lawless and criminal regime. What happens after Assad will only become better.”

Anwar, 40, also longs for freedom and truth after more than 50 years of oppression by the Assad family regime: “Today we destroyed the slogans and posters of Bashar Assad and Hafez Assad . But it is not enough! We must change everything, such as school curricula, so that they tell the story of our revolution and expose the lies of the dictatorship. »

Armed rebels seizing power can be seen everywhere in Umayyad Square. Armed with Kalashnikovs, they roamed the crowds, more or less secure.

But this frightened Zachariah, who made no secret of his sympathy for the fallen regime. He said, “This is the first time I’ve seen people with weapons like this on the streets in Syria. I’m scared, I don’t feel safe. How am I going to live with these people? Could they kill me?! I don’t know.” He distrusts Syria’s new strongman and plans to flee the country.

This polarizing normalcy contrasts sharply with the landscape observed on the road leading from the Lebanese border to the Syrian capital, where we can see burnt cars, signs of looting, and checkpoints littered with armed men, some of whom Wearing camouflage uniforms and turbans.

CBS