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RUINED BY WAR

Shocking images show how once-thriving city of Aleppo has been destroyed by conflict…but locals still manage to have first Christmas party in four years

Before and after pictures show how the historic city has been devastated by four years of fighting between rebels and government troops

THESE shocking images show how war has devastated Aleppo - as many residents celebrate Christmas publicly for the first time in four years.

Since 2012 the famous Syrian city has been a warzone with government forces on the west and rebels on the east.

This picture shows the entrance to al-Zarab souk in the old city of Aleppo in November 2008, four years before the fighting spread to the city
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This picture shows the entrance to al-Zarab souk in the old city of Aleppo in November 2008, four years before the fighting spread to the cityCredit: Reuters
A shocking image taken on December 13 shows the utter devastation to the market after bombing campaigns targeted the city
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A shocking image taken on December 13 shows the utter devastation to the market after bombing campaigns targeted the cityCredit: Reuters
This is the historic Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo pictured in 2009 before the rebels and government forces arrived
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This is the historic Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo pictured in 2009 before the rebels and government forces arrivedCredit: Reuters
This was the devastation to the mosque in December this year, which was built at the beginning of the 8th century
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This was the devastation to the mosque in December this year, which was built at the beginning of the 8th centuryCredit: Reuters
The Umayyad mosque, shown here in 2010, is purportedly home to the remains of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist
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The Umayyad mosque, shown here in 2010, is purportedly home to the remains of Zechariah, the father of John the BaptistCredit: Reuters
The bleak aftermath of four years of intense fighting on the historic site, with the burned out remains lying across the floor
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The bleak aftermath of four years of intense fighting on the historic site, with the burned out remains lying across the floorCredit: Reuters
This shows al-Sheebani school's building, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria before it was damaged on May 14, 2008
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This shows al-Sheebani school's building, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria before it was damaged on May 14, 2008Credit: Reuters
The charred remains of the school building which was clearly a battleground during the conflict
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The charred remains of the school building which was clearly a battleground during the conflictCredit: Reuters
For the first time in years, residents have been celebrating Christmas in the famous city
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For the first time in years, residents have been celebrating Christmas in the famous cityCredit: Twitter
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Dozens of residents, including some dressed as Santa, have been pictured enjoying Christmas celebrations as the fighting ends
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Dozens of residents, including some dressed as Santa, have been pictured enjoying Christmas celebrations as the fighting endsCredit: Twitter

Fierce fighting is now drawing to a close after the army recaptured "99 per cent" of the city.

Local have been pictured celebrating the festive period, putting up a public Christmas tree for the first time in four years.

Images on Twitter showed dozens of residents dressed as Santa enjoying the festivities.

Despite the near-end to the conflict, shocking pictures show the devastation of bombing campaigns on the city, which is a Unesco World Heritage site.

Many historic buildings have been ruined or burned to ashes in the fighting between the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian Armed Forces.

The ancient Citadel, which dates back to the third millennium BC, has suffered significant damage, along with the 14th century Al-Madina Souq trading market.

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One restaurant owner Carlo Ohanian has been capturing the before and after destruction of landmarks.

“You can imagine how it was, our city – the old souqs, the old alleys, the Citadel, the old town,” Ohanian told

“Now all this is gone, it's unrecognisable.

“To be very frank, I have never imagined that the situation would get to this point of disaster in my country because there wasn’t any reason."

Mamoun Abdelkarim, Syria's Director General of Antiquities, said: "The situation is good inside the Citadel but the disaster and the real damage was inflicted on the old market."

Aleppo was once Syria's largest city with a population of more than two million before the war.

It was a key centre on the legendary Silk Roads trading network between eastern Europe and Asia.

During its stormy history, Aleppo has been controlled by Arabs, Mongols and Ottomans and bears the marks of conquerors in its diverse architectural styles.

The fighting, which began in March 2011 in Deraa, spread to Aleppo in 2012 and has been constant ever since.

The Shahba Mall, one of the largest commercial shopping centres in Syria, before it was damaged on December 12, 2009
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The Shahba Mall, one of the largest commercial shopping centres in Syria, before it was damaged on December 12, 2009Credit: Reuters
The battered shell of the mall after years of fighting. It reportedly served as a prison while it was under the control of ISIS
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The battered shell of the mall after years of fighting. It reportedly served as a prison while it was under the control of ISISCredit: Reuters
Aleppo's Umayyad mosque before it was damaged on March 12, 2009
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Aleppo's Umayyad mosque before it was damaged on March 12, 2009Credit: Reuters
Bashar al-Assad's regime and anti-government activists traded blame for the attacks which devastated the mosque, shown here in its current state
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Bashar al-Assad's regime and anti-government activists traded blame for the attacks which devastated the mosque, shown here in its current stateCredit: Reuters
The Hamam El Nahasin, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria, before it was damaged on October 6, 2010
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The Hamam El Nahasin, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria, before it was damaged on October 6, 2010Credit: Reuters
Damage to the mosque which dates back to the 13th century, with tables strewn over the floor and debris everywhere
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Damage to the mosque which dates back to the 13th century, with tables strewn over the floor and debris everywhereCredit: Reuters
Many people have taken to Twitter to express delight as Aleppo gained its "first Christmas tree in years"
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Many people have taken to Twitter to express delight as Aleppo gained its "first Christmas tree in years"Credit: Twitter
Aleppo's historic citadel, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria before it was damaged on August 9, 2010
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Aleppo's historic citadel, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria before it was damaged on August 9, 2010Credit: Reuters
The ancient Citadel, which dates back to the third millennium BC, has suffered significant damage
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The ancient Citadel, which dates back to the third millennium BC, has suffered significant damageCredit: Reuters

On September 22, two weeks after encircling the east of the city, government troops launched an all-out offensive to take control.

Thousands of  people have left since Thursday (December 15)  and there were up to 250,000 civilians - 100,000 of them children - reportedly trapped in east Aleppo when it came under siege.

The UN revealed 82 civilians were reportedly executed on the spot by government allied forces.

It has been described as a "meltdown of humanity" by a spokesman for the organisations human rights office with the full extent of the killings as yet unknown.

The regime and its Russian backers have also been accused of deliberately targeting hospitals in rebel-held areas - with a team of brave Brit medics now set to travel there.

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