Clarissa Ward

We have heard Israeli airstrikes throughout the night, almost every night since Bashar al-Assad fell. Israel has taken more territory along its border with Syria, they say, to create a sort of buffer zone, a security zone. But that has raised concern and some anguish here, of course, in Syria, too. I think it's also very difficult to predict what the region will look like going forward.

We have heard Israeli airstrikes throughout the night, almost every night since Bashar al-Assad fell. Israel has taken more territory along its border with Syria, they say, to create a sort of buffer zone, a security zone. But that has raised concern and some anguish here, of course, in Syria, too. I think it's also very difficult to predict what the region will look like going forward.

For Iran, the fall of Bashar al-Assad is a devastating blow. It comes on the heels of Hezbollah's leadership in Lebanon being decimated by Israel. And really, it signifies the end of this Iranian project that we saw across the so-called Shia crescent.

For Iran, the fall of Bashar al-Assad is a devastating blow. It comes on the heels of Hezbollah's leadership in Lebanon being decimated by Israel. And really, it signifies the end of this Iranian project that we saw across the so-called Shia crescent.

The Assad family ruled Syria for more than 50 years, and it was a brutal, totalitarian police state. Even before the civil war began, uprisings like one in the city of Hama were crushed with brute force. There was no political freedom. There's definitely a mixture of emotions, excitement, jubilation, trepidation, as everyone waits to see what this new chapter will bring.

The Assad family ruled Syria for more than 50 years, and it was a brutal, totalitarian police state. Even before the civil war began, uprisings like one in the city of Hama were crushed with brute force. There was no political freedom. There's definitely a mixture of emotions, excitement, jubilation, trepidation, as everyone waits to see what this new chapter will bring.

The Sednaya prison is really synonymous with Assad's brutal regime, with its industrial scale mechanisms of forcible, arbitrary detainment and torture and killing. It was dubbed by human rights groups as a slaughterhouse where people vanished, never to be seen again.

The Sednaya prison is really synonymous with Assad's brutal regime, with its industrial scale mechanisms of forcible, arbitrary detainment and torture and killing. It was dubbed by human rights groups as a slaughterhouse where people vanished, never to be seen again.

When we arrived at the Sednaya prison, we saw thousands of people pouring in from all over the country, desperately looking for their loved ones. Despite prisons being emptied, for some, their questions may never get answered. Is my son dead or alive? Is my sister or brother in this prison or that prison?

When we arrived at the Sednaya prison, we saw thousands of people pouring in from all over the country, desperately looking for their loved ones. Despite prisons being emptied, for some, their questions may never get answered. Is my son dead or alive? Is my sister or brother in this prison or that prison?

The cruelty, the agony of not knowing, of not having that closure is something that will live on here for many years to come.

The cruelty, the agony of not knowing, of not having that closure is something that will live on here for many years to come.

We have heard Israeli airstrikes throughout the night, almost every night since Bashar al-Assad fell. Israel has taken more territory along its border with Syria, they say, to create a sort of buffer zone, a security zone. But that has raised concern and some anguish here, of course, in Syria, too. I think it's also very difficult to predict what the region will look like going forward.

For Iran, the fall of Bashar al-Assad is a devastating blow. It comes on the heels of Hezbollah's leadership in Lebanon being decimated by Israel. And really, it signifies the end of this Iranian project that we saw across the so-called Shia crescent.

The Assad family ruled Syria for more than 50 years, and it was a brutal, totalitarian police state. Even before the civil war began, uprisings like one in the city of Hama were crushed with brute force. There was no political freedom. There's definitely a mixture of emotions, excitement, jubilation, trepidation, as everyone waits to see what this new chapter will bring.

The Sednaya prison is really synonymous with Assad's brutal regime, with its industrial scale mechanisms of forcible, arbitrary detainment and torture and killing. It was dubbed by human rights groups as a slaughterhouse where people vanished, never to be seen again.

When we arrived at the Sednaya prison, we saw thousands of people pouring in from all over the country, desperately looking for their loved ones. Despite prisons being emptied, for some, their questions may never get answered. Is my son dead or alive? Is my sister or brother in this prison or that prison?

The cruelty, the agony of not knowing, of not having that closure is something that will live on here for many years to come.

It's one of many secret prisons across the city.

It's one of many secret prisons across the city.

The guard makes us turn the camera off while he shoots the lock off the cell door. We go in to get a closer look. It's still not clear if there is something under the blanket. Oh, it moved. Is there someone there? I thought it was gonna move. Is someone there? Or is it just a blanket? I don't know, I don't know.

The guard makes us turn the camera off while he shoots the lock off the cell door. We go in to get a closer look. It's still not clear if there is something under the blanket. Oh, it moved. Is there someone there? I thought it was gonna move. Is someone there? Or is it just a blanket? I don't know, I don't know.

Does anyone have any water?

Does anyone have any water?

After three months in a windowless cell, he can finally see the sky. My God, the light, he says. Oh, God, there is light. The fighter hands him something to eat. He can barely lift it to his mouth. But his body can't handle it. Okay, you're okay. His captors fled during the fall of Damascus.

After three months in a windowless cell, he can finally see the sky. My God, the light, he says. Oh, God, there is light. The fighter hands him something to eat. He can barely lift it to his mouth. But his body can't handle it. Okay, you're okay. His captors fled during the fall of Damascus.

No food or water. That was at least four days ago. The rebel tells him there's no more army, no more prisons, no more checkpoints. Are you serious, he says? Syria is free, he tells him.

No food or water. That was at least four days ago. The rebel tells him there's no more army, no more prisons, no more checkpoints. Are you serious, he says? Syria is free, he tells him.

As a paramedic arrives, the shock sets in. Jake, I have to say, I have been doing this job for nearly 20 years now. And that really was one of the most extraordinary moments that I have ever witnessed.

As a paramedic arrives, the shock sets in. Jake, I have to say, I have been doing this job for nearly 20 years now. And that really was one of the most extraordinary moments that I have ever witnessed.

We don't know where Abdul Khurban is now. He got into that ambulance. We offered to give him our phones to call his family. But as you can see in that moment, he was in a state of profound shock. He wasn't able to collect himself to the point where he was able to get in touch with his family.

We don't know where Abdul Khurban is now. He got into that ambulance. We offered to give him our phones to call his family. But as you can see in that moment, he was in a state of profound shock. He wasn't able to collect himself to the point where he was able to get in touch with his family.

Possible.

Possible.

It's one of many secret prisons across the city.

The guard makes us turn the camera off while he shoots the lock off the cell door. We go in to get a closer look. It's still not clear if there is something under the blanket. Oh, it moved. Is there someone there? I thought it was gonna move. Is someone there? Or is it just a blanket? I don't know, I don't know.

Does anyone have any water?

After three months in a windowless cell, he can finally see the sky. My God, the light, he says. Oh, God, there is light. The fighter hands him something to eat. He can barely lift it to his mouth. But his body can't handle it. Okay, you're okay. His captors fled during the fall of Damascus.

No food or water. That was at least four days ago. The rebel tells him there's no more army, no more prisons, no more checkpoints. Are you serious, he says? Syria is free, he tells him.

As a paramedic arrives, the shock sets in. Jake, I have to say, I have been doing this job for nearly 20 years now. And that really was one of the most extraordinary moments that I have ever witnessed.

We don't know where Abdul Khurban is now. He got into that ambulance. We offered to give him our phones to call his family. But as you can see in that moment, he was in a state of profound shock. He wasn't able to collect himself to the point where he was able to get in touch with his family.

Possible.