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Devastation reigns in Syria’s Aleppo

Regime forces and opposition groups remain locked in battle in Syria’s largest city, threatening peace talks.

Syrian city of Aleppo/Please Do Not Use
More than a week of intense fighting has gripped the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, as government forces reportedly dropped barrel bombs and rebel groups fired mortars. [Zouhir Al Shimale/Al Jazeera]
By Zouhir Al Shimale
Published On 3 May 2016

Heavy bombing in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo has killed more than 250 people in less than two weeks, and threatens to derail planned peace talks aimed at ending the country’s five-year-old civil war.

Up to 400,000 people were believed to still remain in rebel-held parts of Aleppo, the largest city in Syria. Regime forces and rebel groups were locked in battle throughout the city.

Meanwhile, politicians in Geneva were discussing potential options to restore a truce.

Syrian city of Aleppo/Please Do Not Use
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented at least 254 civilian deaths - many of them children and women - since the escalation started on April 22. [Zouhir Al Shimale/Al Jazeera]
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Syrian city of Aleppo/Please Do Not Use
There have been particularly callous attacks, such as the deadly government air strike on Al-Quds hospital in the rebel-held eastern part of the city. Dozens died in the raid, including at least 14 patients and staff of Doctors Without Borders. [Zouhir Al Shimale/Al Jazeera]
Syrian city of Aleppo/Please Do Not Use
On April 25, rebels killed at least 19 civilians and injured more than 100 others when they fired shells on to civilian neighbourhoods in the government-controlled western half of Aleppo. [Zouhir Al Shimale/Al Jazeera]
Syrian city of Aleppo/Please Do Not Use
'I don't care about the air strikes or where the bombs land,' Khaled, 13, told Al Jazeera. 'I have to help take care of my family, especially my mother.' [Zouhir Al Shimale/Al Jazeera]
Syrian city of Aleppo/Please Do Not Use
'I'd be crazy to stay at home hiding from war planes,' Abu Abdu told Al Jazeera. 'My children would starve. I'd rather die than let a shameful thing like that happen.' [Zouhir Al Shimale/Al Jazeera]
Syrian city of Aleppo/Please Do Not Use
In a statement on Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 145 civilians had been killed by air strikes on rebel-controlled neighbourhoods since the the escalation began. [Zouhir Al Shimale/Al Jazeera]
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Syrian city of Aleppo/Please Do Not Use
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that at least 100 civilians 'were killed when tens of shells, homemade rockets and explosive cylinders [hit] places controlled by the regime forces in Aleppo'. [Zouhir Al Shimale/Al Jazeera]
Syrian city of Aleppo/Please Do Not Use
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Monday that he was deeply concerned about the state of the ceasefire in Syria and that a new initiative was needed to keep dialogue alive. [Zouhir Al Shimale/Al Jazeera]
Syrian city of Aleppo/Please Do Not Use
Between 350,000 and 400,000 people were believed to remain in rebel-held parts of Aleppo, once a city of two million. [Zouhir Al Shimale/Al Jazeera]
Syrian city of Aleppo/Please Do Not Use
Both sides have bombarded residential areas for more than a week. [Zouhir Al Shimale/Al Jazeera]