Life Returns to Normal in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyah

(MENAFN) Life is gradually resuming in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah districts of northern Aleppo, Syria, which were recently liberated from the control of the terrorist group YPG/SDF.
After years under occupation, the Syrian Army reclaimed Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah from YPG/SDF forces on Jan. 10. This operation marked a significant milestone in dismantling the terror group’s presence in the areas it had captured.

Following the group’s retreat from these neighborhoods, the militants quickly lost authority over nearly 40% of the territories they had held in northeastern Syria.

Situated close to central Aleppo, Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah are known for housing low-income communities, including Christians, Kurds, and Syrians from various ethnic origins who were displaced during the civil war.

These areas carry visible damage caused both by attacks from the Baath regime and by conflicts arising from the terrorist group’s efforts to fortify the neighborhoods.

As is common in many parts of Syria, access to these districts requires passing through checkpoints established by Syrian security forces. Numerous buildings still show traces of barricades erected by the militants, often reinforced with sandbags across several floors.

Temporary electrical connections, with cables stretched between buildings on either side of the streets, create a web-like appearance reminiscent of spider webs, reflecting the improvised infrastructure left behind.

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