DAMASCUS — The newly appointed head of airport security in Damascus, a former rebel who fought through Syria to reach the capital, has arrived with his team. The few maintenance personnel present were eager to hear from Major Hamza al-Ahmed, as they expressed their long-held grievances stemming from the oppressive regime of President Bashar Assad, which they now find astonishingly in the past.

They shared experiences of being overlooked for promotions in favor of Assad loyalists, suffering threats of imprisonment for minimal productivity, and identified die-hard Assad supporters still lurking among the airport staff, waiting for a chance to reestablish their influence. Al-Ahmed attempted to calm their nerves, while engineer Osama Najm noted, “This is the first time we talk” about their concerns.

This marks the beginning of a transformative era for Syria after the unanticipated departure of Assad. With rebels now in control, the populace is experiencing a complex mix of feelings: excitement for newfound freedoms, grief over years of suppression, and anxious anticipation regarding what the future holds. Many individuals were so overwhelmed that tears were shed.

Surprisingly, the transition has unfolded with relative calm. Reports of vengeance-driven violence and sectarian clashes are scarce. Incidents of looting have been swiftly managed, and rebel fighters appear to be maintaining discipline. On a recent Saturday, life in Damascus continued as usual, with only a single van of insurgents spotted.

Nevertheless, the potential for chaos looms large. The nation stands fragmented and isolated after enduring half a century of Assad family dominance. Many families are fragmented due to the war, individuals bear the scars of inhumane treatment in prisons, and tens of thousands remain unaccounted for. The economy is in shambles, with rampant poverty, high inflation, and unemployment. Corruption has become a pervasive element of daily life.

Yet, amidst this critical moment, several individuals are choosing to explore the path forward. During a meeting at the airport, al-Ahmed assured the staff, “The new path will have challenges, but that is why we have said Syria is for all and we all have to cooperate.”

Najm acknowledged that the rebels have made promising statements so far, stating, “But we will not be silent about anything wrong again.”

In a police station that had been set ablaze, portraits of Assad were ripped down and files were destroyed following the insurgents’ entrance into the city on December 8. All personnel from Assad’s police and security forces have vanished.

Recently, the building began operating with ten men from the rebels’ governing body, which has previously managed the rebel-held Idlib region in northwestern Syria. They address minor crimes and disputes, such as a complaint about neighbors sabotaging a power supply. “It will take a year to solve problems,” one of the policemen mumbled.

The rebels are aiming to cultivate order in Damascus by mirroring their governance model from Idlib, but the challenge is significant. Rebel police numbers are estimated to be around 4,000, with only half stationed in Idlib and the rest securing Damascus and other areas. Overall, experts suggest that the insurgent force consists of approximately 20,000 fighters.

Presently, both the fighters and civilians are beginning to understand one another’s realities. The insurgents drive lavish SUVs, which are largely inaccessible to most residents due to inflated prices stemming from taxes and corruption. Additionally, they are using Turkish lira, banned in government-controlled territories, instead of the dwindling Syrian pound.

Many of the insurgent fighters originate from more conservative regions of the country, with a considerable number espousing hardline Islamist beliefs. The leading insurgent group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has distanced itself from its al-Qaida ties. Its leaders are striving to cultivate an image of inclusivity aimed at Syria’s diverse religious and ethnic communities.

However, skepticism persists among many Syrians. Some fighters wear ribbons with Islamist mottos on their uniforms, and not all belong to HTS, the most organized faction. Hani Zia, a resident of this capital and a native of Daraa, where the initial protests against Assad began, voiced his concerns about reports of violence against minority groups and acts of revenge.

“We should be fearful,” he remarked, worried that some militants may feel superior to the general populace due to their combat experience. “With all due respect to those who sacrificed, we all sacrificed.”

Yet, a sense of fear is mostly absent in Damascus, where many citizens assert they will not allow themselves to be subjugated any longer. Some eateries are openly serving alcohol, while others do so discreetly to gauge public sentiment.

In a café located in the historic Christian district, patrons enjoyed beer as a group of fighters passed by without interference. In a separate incident, when a man waved a firearm at a liquor store in the Old City, rebel police promptly detained him, a policeman revealed.

Salem Hajjo, a theater instructor and participant in the 2011 protests, expressed disagreement with the rebels’ Islamist ideologies, yet he admires their administrative skills accrued from managing their affairs. He anticipates a voice in Syria’s future. “We have never been this at ease,” he shared. “The fear is gone. The rest is up to us.”

In the immediate aftermath of Assad’s exit, gunfire rattled through the streets as armed men celebrated their victory. Security buildings were set ablaze, and the airport’s duty-free area was ransacked. Rebels attributed some of this disorder to fleeing government supporters.

Initially, residents remained indoors, peering cautiously at the insurgents. Shops closed their doors. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham quickly imposed a nighttime curfew for three days, banning celebratory gunfire and deploying fighters to safeguard properties.

As the curfew lapsed, individuals began to emerge. For many, the first stop was Saydnaya prison, on the outskirts of the capital, to inquire about missing loved ones. The experience proved painful yet also served as a means of solidarity, as rebels and relatives mingled together amidst the foreboding prison corridors.

Celebrations erupted in the streets, where armed men invited children onto their armored vehicles, and insurgents posed for photos with women, some with uncovered hair. Revolutionary music played from passing cars, with shops and walls rapidly adorned with flags and tributes to activists who had lost their lives to Assad’s regime.

Television networks seamlessly shifted from supporting Assad to broadcasting revolutionary anthems. The new insurgent-led transitional government released declarations urging citizens to return to work and called on Syrian refugees worldwide to help with the rebuilding efforts. They disclosed intentions to reform and vet security forces to prevent the potential return of those implicated in violence.

As part of the reassurance campaign, rebel leaders comforted airport employees, many of whom had been aligned with the former regime, emphasizing that their homes would remain safe.

Nevertheless, Syria’s challenges are far from resolved. Despite a drop in the prices of produce after Assad’s exit, reducing the financial weight of custom fees and bribes, fuel distribution has been severely hampered, leading to increased transport expenses and widespread power outages.

Officials are aiming to reopen the airport promptly, and maintenance workers have recently begun inspecting several aircraft on the tarmac. Clean-up crews have started clearing trash and damaged furniture.

One cleaner, who preferred to go by Murad, shared his plight, stating he earns roughly $15 a month to support his six children, including one child with a disability. He dreams of owning a mobile phone and candidly admitted, “We need a long time to clean this up.”