son of Hafez al-Assad, fled Syria. Jbara told Storyful the toppled statue has become a gathering place for Syrians, with the photos they take “symbolizing change and hope for a new future.” ...

A colossal statue of Hafez al-Assad was once a powerful symbol of Syria’s ruling regime, looming over the Damascus-Aleppo highway. Now, like that regime, it is toppled, and Syrians have been visiting ...