A woman stands on her rooftop, listening for the sounds of explosions. With each drone attack, going outside feels like gambling with one's life. Baran, a 30-year-old businesswoman, no longer ventures outdoors. 'I fear tomorrow,' she says. 'How will I survive it?' Since January’s crackdown following widespread protests, thousands have been killed, and repression is total.
Security forces patrol the streets, setting up checkpoints and filling the air with tension. Independent journalists face severe risks, and state propaganda dominates media. Some residents, like Ali, take anti-depressants to cope with the pain of seeing their city under occupation. 'The city looks like the city of the dead,' he says.
While many want the regime gone, they also fear external attacks. 'We sleep under rockets,' Baran notes. 'Their skies give starlight; ours give explosions.'
The psychological toll of the ongoing conflict continues to deepen.