Syrians abroad and across the country are celebrating six months since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, sharing messages of hope, remembrance and calls for justice.
In interviews conducted by The New Arab affiliate Syria TV in Hama, residents expressed mixed feelings about the government's performance since the regime’s collapse.
"There’s a big difference - before the liberation we couldn’t even open our mouths," one woman said. "We feel like we’re living again," she added.
Yet some highlighted ongoing difficulties with one man noting: "people are still hungry. Salaries don’t cover anything. Prices are still high."
Another woman noted: "Before we were afraid of everything, even of speaking in the street. Now we can talk freely." Another Syrian warned that Syrians expect to see fundamental reforms, and "there needs to be a plan to bring justice. Freedom without food is not enough".
"I don’t expect miracles. Just consistency. We’ve had enough chaos. Let the government work, but let it listen too," he added.
There are some signs of hope with moves toward lifting US sanctions on Syria which should open up more opportunities for business and investment in the country.
Syrian author and activist Rime Allaf reflected on X: "It’s our 6th monthiversary, so here are a few key points on where we stand since the genocidal maniac fled Syria precipitately on December 8."
"Regional and international support for what is being called the new Syria has been immediate and impactful; the sanctions have been lifted, financial aid has been pledged, and [Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa] is being treated as a head of state. I hope this does not lead to complacency from our side," she added.
Human rights lawyer Mai El-Sadany wrote: "Today marks 6 months since the brutal Assad regime fell. In the time since, there have been moments of hope, devastation, promise, and abuse. I ground myself in the many Syrians who resisted against all odds and who refuse to settle for anything less than a Syria for all Syrians."
This date also marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Abdul Baset al-Sarout, the revolutionary figure and former professional goalkeeper, who died in 2019 from injuries sustained fighting regime forces in northern Hama.
Known as the "Goalkeeper of the revolution", Al-Sarout joined the uprising at age 20, initially leading peaceful protests in Homs before taking up arms. He fought alongside the rebel force Jaish al-Izza (Army of Glory) until his death on 8 December 2019, the same date as Assad’s fall in 2024.
Sarout was a rising star of Syrian football, playing as goalkeeper for the national under-21 team and Al-Karama club. During the war, he endured the loss of three maternal uncles and all four of his brothers to regime violence before being killed himself. After years under siege in Homs, he was displaced to northern Syria and joined armed resistance in 2018.
Reflecting on Sarout’s legacy, Raed al-Saleh, Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management and former head of the White Helmets wrote on X:
"On the anniversary of the martyrdom of hero Abdul Baset al-Sarout, his voice that called for freedom and dignity remains with us, and his chants rose above the sound of gunfire to express the will of an entire people."
"We will not forget those who sacrificed their lives for a free and dignified Syria. We also remember the martyrs of the Syrian Civil Defence who saved lives under bombardment and gave their lives to protect civilians. From the revolution’s squares to rescue sites, the martyrs write the true Syrian memory," he added.
Additionally, the acclaimed Oscar-nominated filmmaker Waad al-Kateab used the occasion of the six-month anniversary of Assad's overthrow to return to her family hometown of Masyaf after 13 years in exile.
Known for her award-winning documentary For Sama, which chronicled life under siege in Aleppo, al-Kateab fled Syria in 2016. Her return with her husband, Dr. Hamza al-Kateab, was widely celebrated as a symbolic moment of hope for the country as it continues to rebuild itself, including its civil society.
Assad fled to Russia as rebels closed in on the capital Damascus in December of last year, leaving behind a legacy of a destroyed country, a host of war crimes and crimes against humanity, with over 500,000 people left dead in the civil war he instigated.