Reading time: 3 minutes
Bar Elias, Lebanon, December 8, 2024 (OLA NEWS MIDDLE EAST) – In a moment charged with emotion, the streets of Bar Elias, a town near the Lebanese-Syrian border, became a stage for jubilant celebrations following the swift military advances of opposition rebel forces and the announcement of Damascus’ recapture. The news of President Bashar al-Assad’s departure sent waves of joy through the Syrian community in Lebanon, home to approximately 1.8 million Syrian nationals, including 900,000 registered refugees with the UNHCR.
Amid the scenes of celebration, Syrian demonstrators gathered under the vibrant display of Syrian and Palestinian flags, chanting slogans of liberation and unity. The crowd loudly condemned the Assad regime with chants of “Cursed be Bashar al-Assad”. The Bekaa Valley, long a refuge for displaced Syrians, erupted with both hope and bittersweet memories.
Bar Elias (Lebanon), December 8, 2024: Syrians in Lebanon celebrate Damascus’s recapture and Bashar al-Assad’s departure, filling streets with joy and flags. SANDRO BASILI / OLA NEWS / SIPA PRESS
Voices from the Ground
Among the throng, 18-year-old Fadi, who declined to reveal his legal status, expressed his elation:
“It’s the happiest day of my life. Syria is free; come see us in Syria!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with hope.
Ahmed, 25, a Syrian refugee who has been in Lebanon for over a decade, shared a deeply personal sentiment: “I haven’t seen my country in 13 years. I’m excited to go back. My hometown is free.”
Their words captured the collective yearning of many displaced Syrians eager to reconnect with their homeland, now seemingly on the brink of a new era.
The Context of Celebration
The jubilation comes against a backdrop of immense hardship. Since late September, approximately 400,000 Syrians have returned from Lebanon to Syria, often under duress, as Lebanon grapples with its own socio-political turmoil. With an ongoing conflict with Israel straining the already fragile state, tensions in Lebanon have escalated, including anti-Syrian campaigns that gradually intensified during the war, eventually putting increasing pressure on refugee communities throughout the country.
Bar Elias, a critical hub for the Syrian diaspora, reflected both the joy of potential freedom and the lingering challenges of displacement. Syrian families gathered in streets, waving flags, embracing one another, and dancing to songs of freedom.
Despite the optimism, questions loom large over what lies ahead for Syria, with its fractured political and social fabric, and for the millions of Syrians who have yet to decide whether to return home or continue their lives in exile.
Note: The names of refugees mentioned in this report have been changed to protect their identity.
Reporting and pictures by Sandro Basili, Ola News Barcelona; Editing: Alexandre Minguez
