Aleppo Residents Experience Reunions Amidst Rebel Takeover, War Fears, and Unease

Abdulkafi, an English teacher from Aleppo, reunited with his father on Monday, marking their first encounter in years. This reunion took place days after rebels initiated a major offensive and gained control of the northern Syrian city from government forces. Abdulkafi, who resides in opposition territory, remarked, “He is 85, an old man. He never dreamed he would see me again before he died.” Until the offensive, he had been unable to enter regime-held Aleppo. The BBC observed a video of this meeting, which depicted the two individuals embracing and openly expressing profound emotion. Abdulkafi is among several Aleppo residents who have communicated with the BBC following the city’s capture by the armed rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies, from forces aligned with President Bashar al-Assad. These individuals reported respectful treatment by HTS fighters and an improvement in electricity and water provisions. However, they also conveyed anxieties about the potential return of conflict to Aleppo and skepticism regarding the long-term sincerity of the former al-Qaeda-linked group’s declared moderation. The UN reported that tens of thousands of people have been displaced as a result of the recent hostilities. Numerous interviewees requested anonymity, citing safety concerns. Due to challenges in independent reporting from Syria, certain specifics of individual testimonies could not be corroborated. Residents of Aleppo expressed widespread fear of renewed conflict, according to interviews conducted by the BBC. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring organization, reported that air strikes conducted by the Syrian government and its Russian allies have already resulted in dozens of fatalities. A male resident informed the BBC that his primary concern was the threat of bombardment, which he feared could strike the city at any moment. He stated that he had prevented his family from even visiting the local corner shop. He remarked, “We’re living in complete apprehension.” He further noted that the recent air strikes on the city evoked memories of previous phases of the conflict. Aleppo, largely seized by rebels during the initial years of the Syrian civil war, was recaptured by Syrian government forces with Russian support in 2016 following an arduous siege. The city has largely been spared direct combat since that time. The Syrian government asserts responsibility for the ongoing rebuilding efforts in the city, which served as Syria’s commercial center before the war. However, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and independent journalists allege extensive human rights violations by the government in the city, encompassing torture, civilian killings, and the absence of democratic rights. While Abdulkafi and his father’s reunion was joyous, Abdulkafi mentioned that some of his relatives were hesitant to be seen with him, fearing reprisal if regime forces were to regain control of the city. He commented, “Nineteen Eighty-Four is applied in Aleppo. Assad’s image is on every building, streets, on every corner. He is controlling their minds,” referencing George Orwell’s novel on totalitarianism. HTS was established in 2011 as Jabhat al-Nusra, a direct affiliate of al-Qaeda. The group has since disassociated itself from al-Qaeda and asserts that it has adopted a more moderate ideology. Human rights organizations accuse HTS of arbitrary detentions and mistreatment of journalists and civilians who express criticism, allegations that HTS refutes. A sense of apprehension persists among some Aleppo residents. One woman described people as “confused and scared” in the aftermath of the rebel takeover. She initially remained indoors but later ventured out for walks and drives with her family upon learning that rebels were not harassing civilians. She observed, “Everywhere was relatively calm. But everyone looked scared and anxious, you could sense it in their faces and their reactions. No-one looked comfortable.” She added, “People are scared, because we don’t trust anyone or what their reaction might be to what’s happening now.” Concluding, she stated, “We feel let down by everyone. We don’t know what’s going to happen to us.” Mohammad, a male resident, informed the BBC on Sunday that he encountered armed individuals on the streets while purchasing food. He noted that many others were also accumulating supplies. He recounted, “When I went out the militiamen asked me if I was going to leave the city, they said to me ‘don’t worry it is safe for you’.” He continued, “One of the men from the militia asked why my sister, who I was with, did not have her head covered. But they didn’t tell her to cover it – they just asked why.” Mohammad expressed, “We are grateful that these armed groups have taken over. They are better than the government.” He concluded, “There is a lot of fear, fear that the city will run out of food, but our biggest fear is of the Russia and Syrian government bombardment.” George Meneshian, a Greek-Armenian political analyst maintaining contact with Armenians in Aleppo, reported that Christians in the city have not encountered any issues since the HTS takeover. He informed the BBC, “On the first day, an HTS fighter knocked on the door of an Armenian neighbour and assured them that they would definitely not harm them,” further stating that his sources were reluctant to speak directly to the media due to concerns about retribution. He quoted them as saying, “They said they would respect them and allow them to do whatever they want, as Christians and as Armenians.” Mr. Meneshian indicated that Christians harbored suspicion regarding HTS promises, citing past persecution of minority groups in Syria by jihadist organizations that initially pledged not to harm non-Muslims. He observed that many had become accustomed to Assad’s governance, which, despite being authoritarian, did not actively persecute Armenians. He remarked, “There are precedents for Islamist militias initially not harming anyone, but afterwards committing crimes against minorities. Hopefully this will not be the case.” Abdulkafi, residing in Al-Dana, an HTS-controlled city in Idlib, asserted that minorities had no reason to fear the group, though he emphasized his disagreement with them. He stated, “They are showing much more flexibility, because the highest achievement that HTS can get is acceptance from the world. This doesn’t mean that I like them.” Additional reporting was provided by Gabriela Pomeroy. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Details on their approach to external linking are provided.