The Assad family's oppressive half-century rule ended one year ago this week, as Bashar al-Assad fled

for Russia amid an insurgent takeover.

The Syrian president had spent more than 12 years slaughtering his own people in one of the

world's worst wars of recent memory.

For the millions of Syrians who'd opposed him, losing family, friends,

and homes, his flight was a moment of joy and reckoning. We bring you now a very personal look

at going home back to Syria. It comes from the Syrian filmmaker Waad al-Qatib, an Oscar-nominated

documentarian and activist. And a warning, images in her report may disturb some viewers.

Can you believe what's happening? What are we witnessing now? It's real. It's real.

It's 4 a.m. on the 8th of December, 24 in London.

A historic moment none of us could imagine in our wildest dreams.

God is great! The Syrian people have tabled the regime!

Assad has fallen and Syria is free.

I'm with Hamza, my husband and with my mom and dad.

And our friends.

All of us were displaced by Assad's regime.

We decided to fly back to Syria as soon as we could.

We carry so many mixed feelings.

Shock, grief, fear and hope.

Twelve years away from my hometown Mousyaf and 8 years away from Alibu.

All this ends today.

For 14 years, Assad tried to crush us.

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