In the neighborhoods of Aleppo, Syria, bombed during the early years of the civil war, efforts are underway to heal the wounds of destruction in areas that turned to rubble after the fall of the 61-year-old Ba'ath regime and its leader Bashar al-Assad.
AA reporters captured the devastation in these neighborhoods, heavily bombarded by Assad's forces during the early years of the civil war.
As Syria's second-largest city, Aleppo faced the most intense bombardment and became a key site of anti-regime protests in March 2011.
To suppress these protests, Assad's forces resorted to all forms of weaponry, capturing the city in 2016 after devastating destruction.
Entire neighborhoods were bombed, and infrastructure was completely destroyed.
Residents in heavily bombed areas such as Hariten, Meir, Liramun, Kermeterrab, and Haydariye are now attempting to rebuild amidst the ruins.
Drone footage shows that more than half of the housing in these neighborhoods was damaged, with most homes uninhabitable and requiring complete reconstruction.
Like many areas in Syria, mosques and schools have also been rendered unusable. Ahmed Hasan, a resident of Kermeterrab, shared that after his neighborhood was bombed, he moved to another area, which was also bombed, forcing him to return.
He said his wife died in the bombing and his house was damaged, while some of the residents whose homes remained intact returned, while others worked to rebuild. Muhammad Casim, a resident of Haydariye, explained that after moving to Manbij during the war, he returned to Aleppo after the fall of the regime and the recapture of Manbij from the PKK/PYD.
With minimal damage to his house, his return was easier, and he said some neighbors are also returning, with some repairing minor damage, while others are returning to their completely destroyed homes.
Casim emphasized the numerous ongoing issues, particularly in infrastructure and the economy, and expressed hope for Syria's reunification under a single flag and state. Ahmed Zeki Ibrahim, a Turkmen from Aleppo, mentioned sending his family to Turkey during the war while he stayed behind. He noted that the damage to his home during the regime's bombardment and the lack of new housing or repairs to damaged homes are slowing the return process.
Ahmed Zeki Ibrahim, a Turkmen from Aleppo, mentioned sending his family to Turkey during the war while he stayed behind. He noted that the damage to his home during the regime's bombardment and the lack of new housing or repairs to damaged homes are slowing the return process.
He noted that the damage to his home during the regime's bombardment and the lack of new housing or repairs to damaged homes are slowing the return process.
