Aleppo in March 2019 was an undescribable mix of complete destruction and an estounishing sense of normality, apart from the constant power cuts. Only in December 2016 Aleppo was recaptured by the Syrian Army from Al-Nusra and foreign Jihadist fighters, who arrived from all over the world to turn Syria into a Caliphat. Many of whom were experienced fighters and came from the ongoing insurgency in neighboring Iraq.
I travelled with four other Europeans and when walking around the city we constanly were asked to have our selfies taken with locals. People were simply overjoyed, to them we were a sign of normality, but also hope that tourists may be coming back to a city that once once a popular tourist destination. Old Aleppo was famous for its large mansions, narrow alleys, covered souqs and ancient caravanserais.
The citadelle remained untouched during the 4 years of fighting
Fight over Aleppo 2012 to 2016
The fight over the dominance of Aleppo started in 2012 and was characterized by ever changing alliances bewteen the warring parties. The front lines ran right through the city, with the eastern part being under control of IS, Al-Nusra to the west and the Syrian Army in between. In the north Kurdish forces played role. Worst hit were the eastern part and the old bazar with over 1000 shops, which had been run by the same family for centuries.
The historic center of Aleppo, an UNESCO World Heritage Sight was completely destroyed, especially the old bazaar. Al-Nusra fighters hid in the houses at the bottom of the citadelle, where the Syrian Army managed to remaind a stronghold. That’s why this area suffered the most destruction, even 2 years after the fighting ended, there was hardly any rebuidling.
Area right at entrance of the citadelle, from the the Old Mosque only the minaret is left
remains of the covered souq, once one of largest in the world
Locals meet in the deserted halls of the bazar
Bombed out shops of old bazar
Destroyed building in old Aleppo
Entrance to citadelle of Aleppo
View of Aleppo from the citadelle
Syrian tourists visiting the citadelle
one of the few shops that had reopened in the bazar
Shopkeepers in Old Aleppo
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