100 Days After Syria's Collapse: Where Is Damascus Heading Now?

100 Days Ago, the World Stood Still

At dawn on December 8, 2025, the news that Bashar al-Assad had boarded a plane to Russia dominated breaking news worldwide. The Syrian regime, held by father and son for 54 years, collapsed in just ten days. On the streets of Damascus, people wept and embraced each other. Tears that could have been joy or fear.

Approximately 100 days later, in March 2026, where does Syria stand now?

The Power Vacuum: Who Is Filling It?

The force that seized effective control of Syria immediately after Assad's collapse was Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Once classified as an al-Qaeda affiliate, this armed group now brands itself as the "Revolutionary Transitional Government" and is striving for international recognition.

Leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Julani) has appeared in Western media interviews wearing a tie. He repeatedly stated: "We will protect all religions and minority groups." Yet tensions with the Kurdish autonomous region of Rojava remain taut, and Alawite and Christian communities cannot hide their anxiety.

The international response is equally complex. Turkey has effectively supported HTS and expanded its influence, while Israel has crossed the Golan Heights buffer zone to effectively occupy parts of southwestern Syria. The US has partially eased sanctions against Syria but has not yet lifted HTS's terrorist designation.

Have People's Lives Changed?

They say the souks (markets) of Damascus's old city have come alive again after a long time. Refugees returning from abroad are gradually appearing too. Over 6 million fled the country during the 14-year civil war. Some are coming back, but most are still watching and waiting.

Electricity averages only 3-4 hours per day. Food prices remain sky-high. The mukhabarat (secret police) buildings from the Assad era were burned down, but reports of new forms of control are already emerging.

Change clearly exists. But whether that change represents freedom or a preview of another form of authoritarianism — no one can say with certainty yet.

Films and Dramas About the Middle East

The screen sometimes teaches more vividly than textbooks when it comes to understanding Syria's chaos.

"The Suffering Grieve Me" (2017) is a documentary capturing the perspective of civilians in the middle of the civil war. Testimonies of children interspersed with bombing scenes starkly show why millions had to cross the seas. It reminds us just how distant today's "reconstruction" discourse really is.

"No End in Sight" (2007) is a documentary about the power vacuum after the Iraq invasion, which overlaps remarkably with Syria's present. Army dissolution, de-Baathification (de-Assadification), external intervention — this work forces us to ask whether Syria will repeat Iraq's mistakes.

"Four Lions" (2010) is a black comedy film, but it dissects ideological clashes and divisions within jihadist militant groups through humor. As HTS declares its "moderation" now, this film's cynical gaze feels strangely realistic. Of course, the caveat that fiction simplifies Syria's complex political dynamics must be kept in mind.

Will Spring Come to Damascus?

Syria is home to one of the oldest cities in human history. There is no doubt that Damascus, having survived for thousands of years, will survive this too. The question is: whose Damascus will it be?

One hundred days is short. But the direction of history is often decided in these short moments. That is precisely why the world must not forget Syria.