At this time, government forces have reclaimed 98 percent of the city; the few militants that remain are now making their last stand in a few isolated areas.
Meanwhile, city residents have taken to the streets to celebrate the impending liberation of Aleppo and the rapidly approaching end of a battle for control of Syria’s largest city, which has raged for over 4 years.
Russian and Syrian sappers are working tirelessly to clear the recently liberated eastern districts of the city of booby traps; the streets are being cleared of debris while residents start to assess the damage done to their city during years of continuous fighting.
Obviously, an event of such magnitude hasn't gone unnoticed in the social media.
#Aleppo / #Syria#SAA reporter Rabea Kalawandy from Liberated Kallasah district pic.twitter.com/AK2zCXVQCU
— 24 Resistance Axis (@Syria_Hezb_Iran) 13 декабря 2016 г.
Freed & happy at the liberated Hanano district in E Aleppo. Photo by @VanessaBeeley pic.twitter.com/yJ6eT5ARvU
— Fares Shehabi (@ShehabiFares) 13 декабря 2016 г.
Victoria del Ejército Sirio, Alepo ha sido completamente liberada. #AleppoVictory pic.twitter.com/Km4urT0oMK
— Caos Historia (@CaosHistorico) 12 декабря 2016 г.
Some people were quick note the distinct absence of the so called "White Helmets" on the city streets, underscoring who really provides help to the locals when push comes to shove.
I don't see any #WhiteHelmets here! Only #SAA soldiers who are called "bad guys" by western media!#Aleppo #Syria 12.12.2016 pic.twitter.com/1usfzxwbQy
— maytham (@maytham956) 12 декабря 2016 г.
Others made startling revelations about vast caches of medical supplies being stockpiled by the militants.
Unprecedented amount of medicine aid founded in militants HQs in Eastern #Aleppo #Syria pic.twitter.com/nAEeBwstB0
— Aldin Abazović (@Ald_Aba) 12 декабря 2016 г.
..or about how the militants have apparently attempted to escape retribution by shaving off their beards and blending in with the local populace.
Streets of Old Aleppo Covered in Hair as 'Moderate Rebels' Shave Their Beards and Run https://t.co/cSCb43vLR3 pic.twitter.com/KmyQ5raCt2
— Russia Insider (@RussiaInsider) 9 декабря 2016 г.
Some people were simply content to observe the locals celebrate their deliverance, noting a somewhat unusually jubilant reaction from people who, according to certain media outlets, were selectively bombed by their liberators.
President Bashar al #Assad #AleppoVictory #SyrianArmy #Syria pic.twitter.com/o5VhyIkH7P
— sasgem (@sasgem) 12 декабря 2016 г.
BREAKING: Syrian Arab Army declares victory in #Aleppo. The city is completely terrorist-free!#Syria #AleppoVictory
— Sarah Abdallah (@sahouraxo) 12 декабря 2016 г.
And it’s small wonder that some observers are genuinely perplexed about certain Western media outlets praising the efforts of some militant-affiliated ‘civil defense’ groups of questionable origins while at the same time blasting the very men and women who strive to aid the suffering people of Aleppo.
@BBCBreaking Where UKs $120 mln Wht Helmets? No liberated E.Aleppo person ever seen/heard of them. But warehouses hoarded food & meds filmed
— Dee Dee (@DeeCTown) 13 декабря 2016 г.
#Aleppo has been Liberated, freed from #Islamic #terrorists by the legitimate Syrian army. People are sad that the terrorists lost?!!!!!
— none of the above (@Aveen2222) 13 декабря 2016 г.
