Aleppo, once the most beautiful city in Syria, lies mostly in ruins today. Here’s how it happened.

Pre-war Aleppo was the largest city in Syria, having almost 5 million residents. It was also the main industrial area in Syria, with the industrial district of Sheikh Najjar alone having more than three billion dollars invested in it by the end of 2010.

Aleppo was also named the capital of Islamic culture in 2006, and not without good reason, as the city boasts many historic mosques, souqs, etc.

But alas, that was not to last.

In 2012, Aleppo, despite remaining loyal to the government, came under attack from jihadists, and by mid-2013, it looked like its’ fate had been sealed, with the Syrian Army under siege in the southwestern districts.

However, the SAA bravely fought back in the face of violent jihad, refusing to let the city fall.

Then came a brutal four years of siege and bombardment, where many were held hostage in jihadist-controlled areas against their will. Access to food and water by civilians was severely restricted, while the jihadists hoarded it for themselves!

Aleppo was also looted numerous times by jihadists, in full coordination with Turkey.

And that’s not even mentioning the 31,000 civilians martyred, the extensive usage of chemical weapons by the jihadists, and the implementation of Sharia Law in jihadist-controlled districts!

Finally, after almost five years of despair, the SAA fully liberated Aleppo on 22 December 2016.

But the damage had been done.

Jihadist-occupied East Aleppo, in particular, suffered severe damage, as did the historic Old City, of which 30% was completely destroyed!

The reconstruction costs are estimated at $40 billion, and the reconstruction will take several years.

Umayyad Mosque of Aleppo, left in ruins.

Souq of Aleppo, 1500 out of 1600 shops within were damaged or destroyed

Greek Orthodox church in Old Aleppo

Citadel of Aleppo, walls were bombed and collapsed

Forty Martyrs Armenian Church, decimated by the war

A city which took 5000 years to build, was reduced to rubble in 5.

If this isn’t sad, I don’t know what is.