In a recent interview with Al Watan newspaper, President Bashar Assad said that the Syrian Army taking control over Aleppo would radically change the situation across the entire country and would be a devastating blow to terrorists and their sponsors.
The fight for Aleppo was waged on the ground but also by diplomats. A special focus was placed on talks between and the United States and the most influential players in the Middle East.
"We are here and we win!" Govt supporters celebrate in Syria's Aleppo after army takes full control, ending 4 yrs of fighting pic.twitter.com/Y4VvqgLnmG
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) 23 декабря 2016 г.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his American counterpart John Kerry have had a series of meetings, in attempts to reach a compromise on the situation in Aleppo. Thanks to their efforts, thousands of lives were saved and the rest of the militants in eastern Aleppo surrendered.
In Aleppo's victory, secularism won, Christmas won, happiness won, civilization won, & Syria won! pic.twitter.com/wWwAwCWGcN
— Fares Shehabi (@ShehabiFares) 22 декабря 2016 г.
Now when the city has been cleared of militants, people continue their celebration in the streets. Music can be heard from everywhere. People are congratulating each other, many of them are waiving Syrian and Russian flags.
Christians in Aleppo Syria light first Christmas Tree in 5 yrs. W/ thankful posters for: Bashir Assad, Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani pic.twitter.com/6nGiQlr0yj
— TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) 22 декабря 2016 г.
"I thought this day would never come. We waited for this for five years. Long live Bashar! Long live Syria and Russia!" a local woman told journalists.
Another woman, her neighbor, tried to say something but could not keep back her tears, folding her kids to her breast.
Свеженькие фото из Алеппо. И этого никогда не увидят зрители CNN и европейских каналов pic.twitter.com/j9L5KAsDW7
— Маргарита Саваж (@MargoSavazh) 21 декабря 2016 г.
All of sudden, automatic gunfire was heard. But for the first time during the war, this was celebratory gunfire. People in Aleppo want the war to never return to their city.
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