Fatshimetrie
The city of Damascus appears to be slowly coming back to life after a violent rebel attack that forced President Bashar Assad to flee to Moscow. Despite the unsettling events, some businesses have been seen resuming operations, including banks.
Indeed, several private banks opened their doors on Tuesday and employees returned to work, signaling a resumption of economic activities that seemed to have been indefinitely suspended. This resumption has brought a sense of relief among Damascus residents, as Anas Jaarah testified, who said: “Thank God, the banks have reopened. We did not expect this after the overthrow of the old regime, and here, Al-Barakah Bank is open. I withdrew money and the situation is normal.”
Sadi Ahmad, manager of a bank branch in Damascus’s luxurious Abu Rummanneh neighborhood, confirmed that private banks had resumed operations on Tuesday and that all employees were present. This economic recovery seems to be a step forward for the Syrian capital, despite the recent tragic events it has had to overcome.
However, this timid recovery has been disrupted by several Israeli airstrikes that hit different regions of Syria during the night. In addition, Israeli troops have taken control of a buffer zone on the border. Israel has denied any advance towards Damascus after deploying in the buffer zone inside Syria.
This complex situation shows the fragility of the region and the challenges faced by the people of Damascus. As life timidly returns to normal in the Syrian capital, new challenges and obstacles stand in the way of reconstruction and stability.