By Yahya Nemah
Idlib, Dec 18 (EFE).– After enduring devastating of airstrikes, residents of this northwestern city are slowly rebuilding their homes, determined to restore normalcy despite the devastation left by the Syrian regime’s offensive.
Wasim al Suid, a civil engineer from Idlib, has already started restoration work in his neighborhood, which was heavily damaged during a regime offensive aimed at quelling insurgents.
The attack, launched by Syrian and Russian military forces, destroyed homes and sparked fires in cars and schools.
“On December 1, military planes from the criminal regime of Bashar al-Assad dropped a missile in front of my house,” Suid told EFE. “The damage was immense, and fires spread through the area.”
At 36, Suid is hopeful that repairs to his neighborhood and home will begin soon. He believes that restoration work could start in the next few days.
The recent offensive, launched on Nov.27 by a coalition of insurgent groups led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, HTS, resulted in the toppling of Assad’s regime in just 12 days.
During that time, airstrikes and artillery attacks by Syrian and Russian forces targeted both military positions and civilians.
High Cost of Repairs
Suid estimates that repairing his home, which has already been rebuilt nine times after sustaining damages due to bombings by Syrian forces, could cost up to $12,000.
“While my repairs are less costly than those of my neighbors, who lost family members, it’s still a burden,” he said.
Hasan al-Hassan, a 32-year-old leader with the Syrian Civil Defense (White Helmets), reported that his teams have been working tirelessly to clear debris from the recent attacks.
“The bombing campaign targeted residential and vital areas, killing 47 people, including 16 children, and injuring over 200,” he said.
Civilians Continue to Suffer
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 900 people were killed in Syria during the offensive, including 138 civilians.
The attacks damaged healthcare centers, camps, and markets, spreading panic and forcing many to flee.
A Small Sacrifice
For Saad Amin, a local storeowner in Idlib, the damage to his shop is a “small sacrifice” for the greater cause. “Although the repairs cost me around $4,000 to $5,000, it’s nothing compared to the sacrifices others have made for the revolution,” he said.
Amin hopes that once the conflict ends, people will rebuild their homes, even if some houses are beyond repair. He remains optimistic that a free Syria will one day regain its prominence in the Middle East.
“We fought for victory,” Amin said. “Our most important achievement is that the revolutionaries succeeded in toppling Assad. Now, we can start fresh and rebuild our country.”
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