Damascus is different from many Syrian cities in that its core was not directly hit by the war. This was not a revolutionary city. The Assad regime kept the capital under strict lock and key. This poses challenges for Damascenes in the liberation era. In the post-Assad world, some view Damascenes almost as less worthy of any of the benefits of liberation. They had not fought for it. Some may have opposed it. It is one of the many fissures post-Assad Syria must contend with. Social cohesion must be rebuilt. This will take considerable time and effort.
Damascenes retain hope of better things to come
Shoppers walk through an old market area near the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on July 9, 2026. (AFP)
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Damascus is different from many Syrian cities in that its core was not directly hit by the war. This was not a revolutionary city. The Assad regime kept the capital under strict lock and key.
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