Syria: ‘No one sleeps’ – how the news of the fall of Bashar al-Assad spread

Residents of Damascus spoke of anxious anticipation of what happened in the Syrian capital overnight.

After hours of reports that the rebels were getting closer, the army declared Damascus “liberated” from long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad early Sunday.

Unconfirmed videos circulating on social media show people cheering in the streets and welcoming the rebels, as well as prisoners being released from the notorious Saydnaya prison.

“No one slept in Syria last night… no Syrian slept abroad,” said Rania Kataf, who runs the Humans of Damascus Facebook page.

“The whole community was holding their phones waiting for the last news.

“How do I feel? I’m overwhelmed.. We all feel like we’ve been underwater, literally, for thirteen years, and we all just took a breath.

“And I know that there are many people older than me who have been through many things.”

He said he had “mixed emotions” since the attacks by rebel groups began, but he was no longer afraid.

Before, he said, “he was afraid to tell others about my opinion and I was afraid to even like, to put my heart to someone from the opposition party.”

One resident of Damascus, who asked not to be named, told the BBC: “For the first time, there is a real sense of freedom.”

He described celebrations in the streets and in Umayyad Square, a landmark in central Damascus, and home to key government agencies, including the Ministry of Defense and the Syrian Army.

“In the center of Umayyad Square, people are celebrating in a peaceful way. They are setting off fireworks. Yes, we hear gunshots, but mainly fireworks,” said a resident.

“What we are hearing is exactly the same as what we heard during the revolution when it started in 2011. This is the continuation of the dream that started that year.”

He said Syrians feel afraid and worried about the future, but “today, all Syrians will only celebrate.”

Yazan Al Amari runs a small phone shop in Deraa, a city south of Damascus that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militias already control.

He told the BBC he was traveling with his friends to the Syrian capital today to celebrate.

“When we woke up and saw the news, we didn’t understand or handle it well, people were very afraid of rumours.

“But when we saw that it was really true, we got into our cars, and now we are on our way to Damascus to celebrate.”

“People felt like they were dreaming,” he said.

“You see people crying. We are very scared to this day.”

Al Amari says it was the first time in many years that he was able to speak freely.

“I could not walk in my small town or walk freely. But now, I can go wherever I want,” he said.