Syrian Americans Must Lead the Rebuilding of Our Homeland
Challenges and hope in the post-Assad era
I was born in Pittsburgh, but my childhood and teenage years unfolded in the oppressive shadow of Idlib, once known as the forgotten city. Growing up under Bashar al-Assad’s regime meant living in a constant state of fear. Every word carried the risk of betrayal. Every interaction felt like walking a tightrope. I write today not merely as an observer, but as someone who lived through the darkest days of my homeland.
In Syria, the regime’s control was total. At school, we wore military uniforms, not as a matter of pride but of submission. History lessons came packaged with weapons training, as if we were being groomed for a war against our own future. Corruption was inescapable—simple tasks like obtaining an ID card demanded navigating a labyrinth of bribes.
I left Syria at 18, fleeing what felt like an endless night. Soon after, the revolution began—a slice of hope that perhaps the sun would rise again. From the safety of the United States, I watched as my country bled, as Assad’s forces turned on their own people, and as cities like Aleppo and Idlib became battlegrounds of resistance and ruin.
Even amidst the horrors, glimpses of a better Syria emerged. In areas freed from Assad’s grip, Syrians rebuilt schools, hospitals, and markets. Communities coalesced around a common cause, crafting a vision of what life without tyranny might look like.
Now, the unimaginable has happened. Assad has fled to Russia. His regime has crumbled. Now, Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa must lead a nation struggling to rise from its ashes. Millions of Syrians, including my own friends and family, are beginning their journeys home. Damascus, once silenced by fear, is alive again with the sounds of returnees reclaiming their city and their future.
But the road ahead is fraught with challenges. The vacuum left by Assad risks being filled by extremism or chaos. Yet, I believe in the unity of the Syrian people. After decades of division and 13 years of brutal war, we have endured enough. This is our chance to build something new—something lasting.
Here in the United States, nearly 200,000 Syrian Americans stand ready to help. We hold a collective will and determination to rebuild not just homes and roads but also Syria’s identity, heritage, and democratic future. For over half a century, the Assad regime robbed us of our humanity. Now, it is our responsibility to reclaim it.
This historic moment demands bold leadership from Syria’s diaspora. Those of us who survived tyranny must share our stories, our expertise, and our vision for a better Syria. We have witnessed firsthand the consequences of neglect and inaction—from the devastating war in Iraq to the overlooked plight of Syrians during the Obama administration. We cannot afford to let history repeat itself.
The newly liberated Syria must not descend into anarchy. Syrian Americans can play a vital role in ensuring it doesn’t. By investing in civil society, fostering democratic institutions, and amplifying the voices of those still fighting for freedom, we can help steer our homeland toward stability and peace.
This is more than political change—it’s the reclamation of our humanity. The world cannot look away, and neither can we. Syria’s future depends on us.