This is the phrase that has become a constant refrain among the locals and has repeatedly echoed since I arrived here a week ago.
The words of joy expressed by the people here led me to reflect deeply on what "freedom" truly means for the people of Syria.
After nearly a decade since my last visit to East Aleppo, I found the city, a land rich in history and described by Islamic scholars as a blessed place, still filled with the rubble of destroyed buildings, damaged roads, and infrastructure that has lost its original form.
However, what struck me even more was seeing the faces of the residents, clearly exhausted as they await a brighter future.
For decades, the people of Syria have lived in hardship.
It is true that Bashar al-Assad is no longer in power, but the question that remains is: Has life truly changed for the locals?
In order to get the answers, I walked through the remnants of war, met old friends, and spoke with community leaders.
They all agreed: there is hope—but the challenges ahead are far greater.
According to Rami, one of the Syrians I met, he plans to return to his ancestral land when the time is right.
For now, his return is to assess the opportunities available and the basic facilities that need attention before bringing his entire family back to their homeland.
"My current challenge is my children, who are still in school and college. They have lived with all the necessities for over 10 years. Can they really live here now, where everything is lacking?" Rami said with a solemn smile.
"As an adult, I might be able to adapt, but this is my country, and Aleppo is the city where I will continue my life," he added.
Since Assad was overthrown by local fighters on December 8, 2024, nearly 30% of Syrian refugees in Middle Eastern countries have reportedly expressed a desire to return within a year.
This marked a significant increase compared to last year, when almost no one was interested in returning, according to surveys.
Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), stated that approximately 200,000 refugees have returned in the past 50 days, while another 300,000 returned from Lebanon during the peak of the Hezbollah-Israel conflict in September and October 2023.
The question is: How can they rebuild their lives when their homes are destroyed?
The challenge of rebuilding lives
Although Assad is gone, the scars of war remain vivid.
The devastation of the civil war is evident as you travel through East Aleppo.
Basic services like electricity and clean water are still unstable.
The majority of the population lives in poverty, and Syria's economy remains isolated from the world due to Western sanctions.
In closed-door meetings with community leaders, government officials, and representatives from Malaysia's Global Peace Mission (GPM), the shared concern was the urgent need for international aid.
Currently, the UN provides cash assistance for transportation, food, and support to repair damaged homes.
"However, more aid is needed from international donors," Grandi added.
Threats persist, and the government remains unstable
The fall of Assad has brought hope as high as Mount Hermon, even as parts of it remain under Israeli occupation.
The peace enjoyed over the past 50 days is still fragile as the interim government, led by Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has yet to set a date to convene all major national leaders to draft a new constitution for Syria.
In reality, several areas are still controlled by armed groups, and tensions persist in parts of northern and southern Syria.
The political maneuvering to form a more inclusive government that represents Syria's diversity is ongoing.
But many still wonder: What kind of government structure will emerge?
Will it truly represent all parties, or will it merely be a change in appearance without systemic reform?
These are questions without concrete answers at the moment.
Western sanctions: Obstacle or solution?
Syria remains under strict Western sanctions, making economic recovery difficult.
Although the United States recently granted a six-month sanctions exemption for certain sectors like energy, Syria's new leaders are urging for more assistance.
Imagine, all transactions must be conducted in cash!
With the country's administration already fragile, these economic sanctions continue to pressure Syria if they remain in place.
Analysis: Free but still shackled
As a journalist who witnessed the destruction of Aleppo in 2014, I am in awe of the unyielding spirit of the Syrian people.
They want to rebuild their lives, even in the face of immense challenges.
But the big question remains: How can they rebuild their lives when their homes are in ruins?
How can they build a future when their economy remains cut off from the world?
Could Syria look to more stable and peaceful regions like ASEAN as a reference for faster progress?
And most importantly, how can they trust a new government that is still in the process of formation?
Assad may be gone, but perhaps only the unity of all Syrians can bring true success that they so desperately crave.
Only time will tell...
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Hilal Azmi is currently in Syria with the Global Peace Mission Malaysia team for the Winter Mission.
