Rime Allaf
@rallaf.bsky.social
Author of It Started in Damascus: How the Long Syrian Revolution Reshaped Our World.
https://www.rime-allaf.com
Communications Strategist and Consultant.
https://www.rime-allaf.com
Communications Strategist and Consultant.
Days before Assad fled Syria and his violent 54-year regime collapsed in December 2024, my book nearly fully written, I could not have imagined I would be there myself almost a year later, with my book, on the day of its release.
It Started in Damascus, in bookshops as of today.
It Started in Damascus, in bookshops as of today.
November 6, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Days before Assad fled Syria and his violent 54-year regime collapsed in December 2024, my book nearly fully written, I could not have imagined I would be there myself almost a year later, with my book, on the day of its release.
It Started in Damascus, in bookshops as of today.
It Started in Damascus, in bookshops as of today.
October 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
This could have been Bashar Assad's silver jubilee on the throne of the hereditary republic. 25 years ago today, Hafez Assad died and bequeathed Syria to his son who could hardly wait to bury him and rule.
The rest is history.
The rest is history.
June 10, 2025 at 11:18 AM
This could have been Bashar Assad's silver jubilee on the throne of the hereditary republic. 25 years ago today, Hafez Assad died and bequeathed Syria to his son who could hardly wait to bury him and rule.
The rest is history.
The rest is history.
It seems Syrians are destined to cry, even rare tears of joy.
Thank you President Trump, thank you Saudi Arabia, thank you Turkey for giving Syria a chance to surmount the hell they endured for nearly 15 straight years. 🍀💚
Please save Gaza and save Ukraine, because you can.
Thank you President Trump, thank you Saudi Arabia, thank you Turkey for giving Syria a chance to surmount the hell they endured for nearly 15 straight years. 🍀💚
Please save Gaza and save Ukraine, because you can.
May 13, 2025 at 5:18 PM
It seems Syrians are destined to cry, even rare tears of joy.
Thank you President Trump, thank you Saudi Arabia, thank you Turkey for giving Syria a chance to surmount the hell they endured for nearly 15 straight years. 🍀💚
Please save Gaza and save Ukraine, because you can.
Thank you President Trump, thank you Saudi Arabia, thank you Turkey for giving Syria a chance to surmount the hell they endured for nearly 15 straight years. 🍀💚
Please save Gaza and save Ukraine, because you can.
This was Syria's flag as founding UN member in 1945. After nearly a million killed & 15 million refugees & the country was razed by Assad enablers, our Independence - and Revolution - Flag flies again at the UN. May it bring Syrians the peace and freedom for which they sacrificed everything.
April 25, 2025 at 5:50 PM
This was Syria's flag as founding UN member in 1945. After nearly a million killed & 15 million refugees & the country was razed by Assad enablers, our Independence - and Revolution - Flag flies again at the UN. May it bring Syrians the peace and freedom for which they sacrificed everything.
South Korea and Syria have established diplomatic relations for the first time, a great development. Assad Senior had loved North Korea's (and Romania's) authoritarianism, media, and personality cult of the eternal leader. May we now collectively learn to love South Korea's democratic culture.
April 11, 2025 at 10:44 AM
South Korea and Syria have established diplomatic relations for the first time, a great development. Assad Senior had loved North Korea's (and Romania's) authoritarianism, media, and personality cult of the eternal leader. May we now collectively learn to love South Korea's democratic culture.
أتمنى للحكومة الجديدة القوة والعزيمة والتوفيق في الأشهر والسنوات القادمة. نجاحها في دفع سوريا إلى الأمام وتحسين بلدنا هو نجاحنا أيضًا.
لديّ ملاحظة: لقد وعدتمونا بأن الحكومة الجديدة ستشبهنا. ٥٠٪ من الشعب السوري نساء، لذا كان ينبغي أن يكون لديكم ما يقارب ١١ وزيرة.
مع ذلك، تهانينا!
لديّ ملاحظة: لقد وعدتمونا بأن الحكومة الجديدة ستشبهنا. ٥٠٪ من الشعب السوري نساء، لذا كان ينبغي أن يكون لديكم ما يقارب ١١ وزيرة.
مع ذلك، تهانينا!
March 29, 2025 at 9:39 PM
أتمنى للحكومة الجديدة القوة والعزيمة والتوفيق في الأشهر والسنوات القادمة. نجاحها في دفع سوريا إلى الأمام وتحسين بلدنا هو نجاحنا أيضًا.
لديّ ملاحظة: لقد وعدتمونا بأن الحكومة الجديدة ستشبهنا. ٥٠٪ من الشعب السوري نساء، لذا كان ينبغي أن يكون لديكم ما يقارب ١١ وزيرة.
مع ذلك، تهانينا!
لديّ ملاحظة: لقد وعدتمونا بأن الحكومة الجديدة ستشبهنا. ٥٠٪ من الشعب السوري نساء، لذا كان ينبغي أن يكون لديكم ما يقارب ١١ وزيرة.
مع ذلك، تهانينا!
A beautiful image from Idlib of the unadulterated joy of children feeling safe, with good tidings flowing from above instead of the bombs our most vulnerable endured in Syria for nearly 15 years. May the children of Gaza soon be free too of terror from the skies.
March 29, 2025 at 3:29 PM
A beautiful image from Idlib of the unadulterated joy of children feeling safe, with good tidings flowing from above instead of the bombs our most vulnerable endured in Syria for nearly 15 years. May the children of Gaza soon be free too of terror from the skies.
A snapshot from UNICEF's 100 Days Report published this week on the state of Syrian children.
March 20, 2025 at 11:20 AM
A snapshot from UNICEF's 100 Days Report published this week on the state of Syrian children.
The book relates why and how Syrians got to where they are today, their patient and painful quest for dignity and freedom, and the regional and global factors that triggered their descent into the hell from which they now must emerge, together.
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/it-star...
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/it-star...
March 11, 2025 at 12:08 PM
The book relates why and how Syrians got to where they are today, their patient and painful quest for dignity and freedom, and the regional and global factors that triggered their descent into the hell from which they now must emerge, together.
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/it-star...
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/it-star...
Putin tried for months to get Assad to meet with Erdogan and wrap things up between Syria and Turkey when everyone wanted to rehabilitate the genocidal maniac. He refused, because he thought he had won and needed to do nothing. He wasn't just a war criminal - he was a stupid one.
February 4, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Putin tried for months to get Assad to meet with Erdogan and wrap things up between Syria and Turkey when everyone wanted to rehabilitate the genocidal maniac. He refused, because he thought he had won and needed to do nothing. He wasn't just a war criminal - he was a stupid one.
One of the most important developments in the region in 20 years, a welcome first step in restoring the Syrian-Saudi cooperation that Assad broke with the assassination of Rafic Hariri and the transformation of Syria into a massive Iranian base. Saudi Arabia's leadership is back.
February 2, 2025 at 2:18 PM
One of the most important developments in the region in 20 years, a welcome first step in restoring the Syrian-Saudi cooperation that Assad broke with the assassination of Rafic Hariri and the transformation of Syria into a massive Iranian base. Saudi Arabia's leadership is back.
Congratulations to Lebanon 🇱🇧 on the election of President Joseph Aoun, the first such election in decades without Syrian regime interference.
January 9, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Congratulations to Lebanon 🇱🇧 on the election of President Joseph Aoun, the first such election in decades without Syrian regime interference.
Wow. A 1992 report from General Ali Douba to Hafez Assad on Syrian intelligence surveillance of Bashar in UK. It says Asma Akhras & her mother met with MI5 people at a hotel & at a social event at their home. The last underlined name is my father's name, stating Bashar was asked if he knew him.
January 7, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Wow. A 1992 report from General Ali Douba to Hafez Assad on Syrian intelligence surveillance of Bashar in UK. It says Asma Akhras & her mother met with MI5 people at a hotel & at a social event at their home. The last underlined name is my father's name, stating Bashar was asked if he knew him.
This makes me so happy. 4 years later, she's still laughing, without the Assad regime's bombs falling on Syrians who dared demand dignity.
January 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
This makes me so happy. 4 years later, she's still laughing, without the Assad regime's bombs falling on Syrians who dared demand dignity.
Dr. Maysaa Sabrine is the first woman in the institution's history to be named Governor of the Central Bank of Syria. A great move for the banking sector, and for the country.
December 30, 2024 at 7:25 PM
Dr. Maysaa Sabrine is the first woman in the institution's history to be named Governor of the Central Bank of Syria. A great move for the banking sector, and for the country.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is in Damascus. May Ukrainians celebrate liberation from Russian aggression soon, as Syrians finally have.
#SlavaUkraini
#SlavaUkraini
December 30, 2024 at 10:42 AM
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is in Damascus. May Ukrainians celebrate liberation from Russian aggression soon, as Syrians finally have.
#SlavaUkraini
#SlavaUkraini
A Syrian Christmas with Linda Bittar, Ramah Shalghin, and Lamita Aishou in Damascus.
ينعاد عليكن بالفرح والمحبة 🎄🤍
ينعاد عليكن بالفرح والمحبة 🎄🤍
December 25, 2024 at 4:42 PM
A Syrian Christmas with Linda Bittar, Ramah Shalghin, and Lamita Aishou in Damascus.
ينعاد عليكن بالفرح والمحبة 🎄🤍
ينعاد عليكن بالفرح والمحبة 🎄🤍
Christmas & other Christian holidays have always been and will always be celebrated in Syria, just like Muslim holidays. The new authorities have accordingly announced December 25 & 26 will continue to be a public holiday, as they have been since independence. Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2024 at 3:37 PM
Christmas & other Christian holidays have always been and will always be celebrated in Syria, just like Muslim holidays. The new authorities have accordingly announced December 25 & 26 will continue to be a public holiday, as they have been since independence. Merry Christmas!
A busy day in Damascus today, with the visit of Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, and a Druze delegation to Ahmad Sharaa.
December 22, 2024 at 3:03 PM
A busy day in Damascus today, with the visit of Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, and a Druze delegation to Ahmad Sharaa.
The same place in Damascus and the same chairs, today vs. 19 days ago.
December 22, 2024 at 2:59 PM
The same place in Damascus and the same chairs, today vs. 19 days ago.
Friday December 27 will be a day of national mourning in Syria, to honor the memory of all those who gave their lives for a Free Syria.
December 20, 2024 at 7:53 PM
Friday December 27 will be a day of national mourning in Syria, to honor the memory of all those who gave their lives for a Free Syria.
Question to Geir Pedersen and the UN Envoy to Syria team: 3 women in your meeting with Ahmad Sharaa wore a head cover. Do they always wear it? Because the one woman meeting Sharaa with Syrian journalist Mousa Al Omar's team didn't and was not asked to. Please clarify, Syrians want to know.
December 16, 2024 at 12:38 PM
Question to Geir Pedersen and the UN Envoy to Syria team: 3 women in your meeting with Ahmad Sharaa wore a head cover. Do they always wear it? Because the one woman meeting Sharaa with Syrian journalist Mousa Al Omar's team didn't and was not asked to. Please clarify, Syrians want to know.
Non-Syrian 'analysts' keep explaining that Syrians do not have a national identity. Really? Here's Hama today with Janna - paradise, our nation is paradise, the song Abdelbasset Sarout used to sing in Homs as everyone sang and swayed along during the first months of the revolution.
December 13, 2024 at 10:42 PM
Non-Syrian 'analysts' keep explaining that Syrians do not have a national identity. Really? Here's Hama today with Janna - paradise, our nation is paradise, the song Abdelbasset Sarout used to sing in Homs as everyone sang and swayed along during the first months of the revolution.
Today all of Syria was ALIVE for the first time in more than half a century.
No people bussed in by the regime.
No coercion, and no photos or empty slogans brandished by anyone.
Just seas of people freely celebrating their country under the Independence Flag, chanting SOURIA.
No people bussed in by the regime.
No coercion, and no photos or empty slogans brandished by anyone.
Just seas of people freely celebrating their country under the Independence Flag, chanting SOURIA.
December 13, 2024 at 5:46 PM
Today all of Syria was ALIVE for the first time in more than half a century.
No people bussed in by the regime.
No coercion, and no photos or empty slogans brandished by anyone.
Just seas of people freely celebrating their country under the Independence Flag, chanting SOURIA.
No people bussed in by the regime.
No coercion, and no photos or empty slogans brandished by anyone.
Just seas of people freely celebrating their country under the Independence Flag, chanting SOURIA.