Metro Vancouver's Syrian community celebrates fall of Assad regime
Members of Metro Vancouver's Syrian community celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime on Sunday. The dictator fled Syria as rebel forces took control of Damascus, with the Assad family now in Moscow. Over 200 people gathered at the Vancouver Art Gallery, waving flags and dancing. Many expressed joy and disbelief at the news, with some considering returning to Syria after years of exile. The conflict, which began in 2011, had reached a stalemate before recent rebel advances. While the celebration marked a significant change, concerns remain about the power vacuum and potential threats from groups like ISIS.