Aleppo — World News, Travel and Social Action

The Syrian Civil War has put Syria in the headlines since 2011. The War has devastated the entire country of Syria, and the United Nations Envoy for Syria estimates that 400,000 Syrians were killed in the Civil War. The war was fought between the Bashar al-Assad’s regime (backed by Russian and Iranian forces), ISIS, Kurdish Forces, and others (including Jaish al Fateh, Ahrar al-Sham, and Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki). Because of the violence of the Syrian Civil War, the United Nations estimates that 5 million refugees have fled Syria thus far.

One of the most significant battles in Syria during the Civil War has been the Battle of Aleppo, which lasted from 2012 to 2016. Aleppo is one of the largest cities in Syria. Its significance is partially historical, as Aleppo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world due to its location on the end of the Silk Road. Before the Battle, Aleppo was controlled by rebel forces, which made Aleppo a target for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who was interested in controlling Aleppo due to its significance as an industrial powerhouse. Although the Syrian Civil war is ongoing, the Battle of Aleppo ended in december of 2016 when al-Assad’s forces gained control of the city.

In order to comprehend the damage inflicted on Aleppo during the war, the United Nations recently took satellite photos of Aleppo. The photos reveal that more than half of the buildings photographed have moderate to severe damage, and ten percent of historically significant sites show severe damage. Despite the damage, nearly 60,000 Syrian refugees have returned home now that Aleppo is controlled only by al-Assad. Although the Battle of Aleppo is over, there are still safety issues in the city; in early February of this year, an entire block of apartments collapsed killing 11 people, including four children. Much of the city lacks running water and electricity, and Syrian officials estimate that it will cost upwards of $10 billion to rebuild the city which held 2.3 million inhabitants before the war.

United States and European officials are reluctant to support efforts in rebuilding the city due to their distrust of president Bashar al-Assad. The president has been accused war crimes including using chemical weapons against civilians, and torturing his opponents. It is estimated that 5,000 Syrian civilians have died at the hands of his army. Despite international distrust of al-Assad, the United States has shied away from attempting to remove him from office because he is arguably the most promising chance for stability in Syria. Although the United States will not attempt a coup, former United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson asserted in a speech that: "We will discourage economic relationships between the Assad regime and any other country” (including the rebuilding of Aleppo). The Battle of Aleppo may have ceased, but it will take years before Aleppo is restored to its formed status in Syria.

GINNY KEENAN is an NYU student currently studying abroad in London. She intends to major in journalism, and reads in her free time. She is always looking for new travel opportunities.

The front lines of the Syrian Civil War trace through alleys and ancient streets in the Old City of Aleppo. Defending these lines are young men, most less than two decades old, carrying AK-47s and homemade grenades.

They have no military training and will not wear body armor for fear of delaying the time of death anointed for them by Allah. They are kids and recent college graduates who picked up guns for their country and, most of all, for revenge. All have lost friends and family to Assad. "These young men are warmhearted and hospitable, but daily burdened and degraded by the fighting. Every fighter I met had a different story that brought him to Aleppo; this project attempts to tell those stories.” — Cengiz Yar.

Muhammed (Nickname: "Doctor") - 19

Muhammad was a student of computer technology, but had to suspend his studies because of the war. He fights for a Free Syria because he was thrown in prison and tortured after protesting against Assad, and because his house was hit and destroyed by a mortar. After Syria returns to peace, he hopes to finish his studies and maybe work in the new Syrian Army to rebuild the country. “What the people want will be. Injustice will not stay.”

Muhanmen Othman - 18

When the uprising started, Muhanmen was an activist who protested against Assad's government. As the war dragged on, he and his friends lost patience with the regime and joined fighters with the Free Syrian Army. Speaking about Bashar Assad, Muhanmen says, "He doesn't listen. He just kills and takes people to prison. We will win or die."

Abu Abdula - age unknown

Abu is fighting for his family, and for Syrian soil. He thinks Bashar Assad and his government are terrible for the people of Syria and the nation's future. He is spurred to continue fighting because of how Assad and his forces have killed Syria's Muslims and defiled the mosques they occupy with sexual intercourse and the consumption of alcohol.

Ali - 18

Ali's 21-year-old brother was killed early in the war. Ali fights for Jihad because "there is no god but Allah."

Makmood - 19

Before the war, Makmood worked with metal, in construction, and sold cars. He fights in the FSA for the defense of Islam. Recently injured by a mortar landing in his house, Makmood now has a piece of shrapnel in his torso and his finger is badly infected. He speaks very little English, but wants move to America someday. However, his expectations are tempered by the reality of daily life in Aleppo; he remarked calmly, "maybe after the war, I won't be alive."

Ahmed Aburadwon - 19

Ahmed joined the fight in Aleppo because of the atrocities visited on Homs, Hama, and the rest of Syria. He blames Assad for the indiscriminate killing of Syria's children and elderly.

Abd al-Kader ("Servant of God") - 17

Abd is one of the fighters holding the front lines in the battle for the Old City of Aleppo. Often on guard duty and rarely sleeping, he has been fighting as part of the Free Syrian Army for just over two months. He moved to Aleppo to fight with his father and considers himself on Jihad.

Muhammad (Nickname: "Hammer") - 19

Muhammad fought with regime forces for a mere three months before defecting in August. He says he left because he was treated poorly. He now fights with the Free Syrian Army on Jihad.

Joseph - 18

As a protester before the war, Joseph was twice imprisoned by the Assad regime. He first joined the Free Syrian Army in his hometown of Al Bab, where he fought for eight months. He fights for freedom, liberty, and against the injustices of the regime. After the war is won, Joseph wants to continue on Jihad outside Syria and take back the Golan Heights.

Abu Abbas Mokmood - 19

With four years remaining in his engineering studies, Abu Abbas joined the Free Syrian Army in the fight against Assad. He fights for the freedom and liberty of Syrian people, who he feels have been too long living under the oppression of Assad's government. He knows too many people from the cities of Mara and Idlib that have died -- some from bullets, others mortars, and others jets. When the war is over he hopes to continue his studies.

[Name withheld] - 20

Before the war, he worked in a big tech company. He's fighting against injustice and is on Jihad. After the war, he wants to take back the Golan Heights.

Abraham - 20

Abraham still lives in Al Bab and travels to the city for brief periods to fight alongside his friends in the Free Syrian Army. He joined the resistance because life was oppressive and unaffordable for people in his city before the war. He is upset that so many Syrians are political prisoners, and wants to topple the regime of Bashar Assad for himself and his family.

Ana - 19

Ana is from Aleppo, where he studied Islam. He is on Jihad.

Tamer - 18

When the war started, Tamer was studying accounting at a university in Aleppo, something he hopes to continue after the war ends. Tamer joined the fight against Assad to defend Syria. When the war ends he wants peace for his country.

Becker - 19

Arrested and tortured at the beginning of the revolution for protesting against the Assad regime, Becker is now on Jihad for the Muslims of Syria. Before the war he was a high school student, but left his studies to join the FSA. His parents didn't approve of him fighting at first, but are proud of him now after he explained how his religious convictions motivate his struggle. He is one of the most respected members of his militia, and his fellow fighters sometimes refer to him as their prince.