Moments of joy and sorrow as former rebels come home to a war-torn nation in need of renewal.

Monday marked a bittersweet milestone as Syrian rebels returned home to reunite with loved ones and begin rebuilding their lives in a shattered homeland. Among them was Mohammed Abu al-Zaid, a former rebel commander, whose recent steps into the Syrian state broadcaster’s headquarters starkly contrasted his stormy entrance years ago when he declared the fall of the Assad regime on live television.

“I made the decision on the spot,” Zaid reflected, recounting the events from the anchor’s chair, now adorned with the opposition’s flag. His uncle, Abu Bilal, a fellow fighter who had returned to Damascus after years of battle, watched the moment unfold on a mobile screen.

Bilal was one of thousands who made the journey back to the capital and its outskirts, leaving behind frontlines in Homs. Trucks carried fighters into the city amidst cheers and the waving of revolutionary flags. Emotional reunions followed, as families greeted returning men with flower petals and tears.

“I haven’t seen my uncle in eight years or my brother in four,” Zaid said, over the echoes of celebratory gunfire. For Bilal, the years apart were marked by battles in Douma and displacement to Idlib under uneasy truce agreements. Now, their home in east Ghouta lay in ruins, untouched by reconstruction since fighting ended in 2018.

Driving through the devastated city, Bilal pointed to the remnants of buildings destroyed by government airstrikes. “East Ghouta was known for its greenery, but it’s now a desert,” he lamented, recalling the chemical attacks of 2013 and the immense loss of life.

Despite the desolation, both men expressed hopes of rebuilding. Bilal planned to revive his restaurant business, while Zaid envisioned working his land in Kanaker. “We’ll lay down arms when there’s a unified state and a proper army,” Bilal declared.

The arrival of returning fighters shifted the power dynamics in Damascus, with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) consolidating control under the leadership of Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. HTS set up checkpoints and curbed celebratory gunfire in the city.

For now, fears about the future took a backseat to the joy of family reunions. Samira Abdul Rizk, Bilal’s sister, reflected on the moment as her once-empty home in east Ghouta filled with loved ones again. “This house hasn’t seen so much life in years,” she said, smiling through tears.