A boy waves the Syrian independence flag in al-Mihrab square, at the entrance to Idlib. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'OLJ)
Abu Marwan hadn’t set foot in Idlib for years. Stuck in the traffic near al-Mihrab Square, he stared, puzzled, at the cloud of smoke from the idling 4x4s. “Has it become Qardaha ?” he joked, referring to Assad’s stronghold near the coast. Idlib — often called "Idlib al-Izz" (Proud Idlib) by the opposition — boasts 24-hour electricity, unlimited Wi-Fi, well-stocked shops and crowded cafes.These amenities have made other major Syrian cities dull in comparison, including Aleppo, the police officer Abu Marwan’s hometown, who had all been held by the regime until its fall on Dec. 8. In a Syria fragmented and ravaged by 13 years of Civil War, the last anti-Assad stronghold became the symbol of resistance within two weeks. Read more Inside the mind of Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s new leader There, as in the rest of the country, residents and...
Abu Marwan hadn’t set foot in Idlib for years. Stuck in the traffic near al-Mihrab Square, he stared, puzzled, at the cloud of smoke from the idling 4x4s. “Has it become Qardaha ?” he joked, referring to Assad’s stronghold near the coast. Idlib — often called "Idlib al-Izz" (Proud Idlib) by the opposition — boasts 24-hour electricity, unlimited Wi-Fi, well-stocked shops and crowded cafes.These amenities have made other major Syrian cities dull in comparison, including Aleppo, the police officer Abu Marwan’s hometown, who had all been held by the regime until its fall on Dec. 8. In a Syria fragmented and ravaged by 13 years of Civil War, the last anti-Assad stronghold became the symbol of resistance within two weeks. Read more Inside the mind of Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s new leader There, as in the rest of the country,...