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 to pose for photos that visualize a new reality.Footage provided to Storyful by Obada Jbara shows a typical scene, as a man and a young girl pose while standing on the head of the statue.The statue was toppled back in December soon after Bashar al-Assad, 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.” Credit: Obada Jbara via Storyful