Aleppo: how it was, and that was

• Aleppo: how it was and that was

Aleppo - one of the oldest cities in the world, which was already populated, most likely, to the VI century BC. The city has an important place in history, as it is located on the Great Silk Road.

But in 2012, war and chaos came to the ancient streets of Aleppo. Do not stop fierce street fighting and air strikes leave behind a wreckage of the oldest cities in the world.

Let's see how looked Aleppo before the war, and how he looks now.

More recently, Aleppo lived a quiet life. This is the Great Mosque of Aleppo, which, together with its adjacent old market are in the list of UNESCO World Heritage in 2010. (Photo by Khalil Ashawi | Reuters):

In another way it is called Aleppo Umayyad Mosque (Masjid al-Umayya bi Halab) and is the largest and oldest mosque in the city of Aleppo in Syria. (Photo by Khalil Ashawi | Reuters):

The Citadel of Aleppo is located in the center of the city of Aleppo in northern Syria, 2009. The most important role the fortress was in the days of the Crusades. (Photo by Khalil Ashawi | Reuters):

The Church in Aleppo, December 2009. (Photo by Khalil Ashawi | Reuters):

2010. More recently, in Aleppo hotel worked ... (Photo by Khalil Ashawi | Reuters):

... cafes and restaurants (2009). (Photo by Khalil Ashawi | Reuters):

The city is beautifully illuminated at night (2010) ... (Photo by Khalil Ashawi | Reuters):

.... We worked malls (2009). (Photo by Khalil Ashawi | Reuters):

In general, everything was good.

But recently, here came the big policy and destroyed everything. In 2012, during the civil war in Syria, the city became the scene of fierce fighting between insurgents on the one hand and government troops - on the other.

One of the oldest cities in the world in ruins in a few years. (Photo by George Ourfalian):

So Aleppo looks now. It is difficult to say who, when and at whose expense it will all be restored. (Photo by George Ourfalian):

At the beginning of February 2016, (SCPR) assessment of the Syrian Center for Political Studies, the number of deaths among the Syrian population, are directly or indirectly caused by the war, up to 470 thousand. People, which is twice more than the UN estimates.

This is the Citadel of Aleppo, which is surprisingly not all destroyed. Compare with the 3rd image. (Photo by George Ourfalian):

government soldiers near the historic fortress in the district of Bab al-Hadid in the Old City of Aleppo. (Photo by George Ourfalian):

The barricades in the old city of Aleppo. (Photo by George Ourfalian):

in Syria at the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the warring parties have stated that the Syrian army already controls 95% of the city area and is ready to declare victory. (Photo by George Ourfalian):

Aleppo. Our days. (Photo by George Ourfalian):

Ancient City of Aleppo. Visible smoke when after a rocket attack on Dec. 7, 2016. (Photo by George Ourfalian):

The soldiers of government forces. (Photo by George Ourfalian):

(Photo by George Ourfalian):

Do rebels fact whether the militants. (Photo by George Ourfalian):

The ruins of the smoke. (Photo by George Ourfalian):

Ancient City of Aleppo in December 2016. According to some estimates, the restoration of the Syrian economy is likely to need a trillion dollars. (Photo by George Ourfalian):