Key Facts
• Assad regime collapsed on December 8, 2024, marking one year since its fall.
• Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, remains heavily damaged with 70% of old city structures affected.
• November 28, 2025: Demonstrations held nationwide to mark the regime’s collapse anniversary.
• Homs, once called the ‘Capital of the Revolution,’ was a key site of anti-government protests.
• 2014 ceasefire brokered by the UN ended a two-year siege of Homs’ old city.
• Residents endured severe conditions, eating leaves and weeds to survive during the siege.
• Current reconstruction efforts include debris removal and mosque restoration, but progress is slow.
• Ahmad Zaidan, a construction worker, expressed hope for rebuilding with international support.
• Population of Homs’ old city was 150,000 before the war; many areas remain uninhabitable.
• The Assad regime used barrel bombs and heavy artillery during the conflict.
Summary
One year after the collapse of the Assad regime, Syria’s Homs, known as the ‘Capital of the Revolution,’ remains a stark reminder of the country’s devastating civil war. The city, a former stronghold of anti-government forces, suffered extensive damage during a two-year siege, with 70% of its old city structures significantly affected. Residents endured extreme hardships, including food and medical shortages, with some resorting to eating leaves and weeds to survive. While a 2014 UN-brokered ceasefire ended the siege, full recovery remains elusive. Reconstruction efforts, such as debris removal and mosque restoration, are underway, but progress is slow. Demonstrations across Syria on November 28, 2025, marked the first anniversary of the regime’s fall, with residents in Homs expressing hope for accelerated rebuilding under the interim government. Ahmad Zaidan, a local construction worker, voiced optimism about the city’s future, emphasizing the need for international support. Despite ongoing challenges, the resilience of Homs’ residents offers a glimmer of hope for the city’s eventual recovery.
