After visiting the synagogue, Chamntoub returned to his home in old Damascus, close to the private Jewish school known as Maimonides that was founded in 1944 but has been closed for decades.

In Damascus, life is cautiously returning to normal ... "We Syrians, we love life, and life goes on," said the 57-year-old, who hesitated before mentioning she was arrested by government forces ...

In the Old City, Fadi Raslan ... but training is ongoing to increase our numbers," he said. The Damascus committees begin their neighbourhood watches at 22:00 (19:00 GMT) every night and end ...