The commercial capital of Syria, Aleppo was once a thriving city with Western chains, shopping centers, and beautiful mosques. But there's not much left standing anymore.
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Before-and-after photos show the staggering scale of destruction in Aleppo
Aleppo has nearly been destroyed as the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad has fought to retake the eastern part of the city from rebels.
A vendor sits inside an antique shop in al-Jdeideh neighborhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, in 2009.
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Ahmed Juventus, an aid worker in east Aleppo who goes by a pseudonym, described the city as "a wasteland of rocks."
"The regime did not win. The regime exterminated all of Aleppo and occupied an empty and destroyed city," he told Business Insider via voice messages on WhatsApp.
Civilians are being evacuated from Aleppo under a cease-fire agreement, but thousands remain. The bombing by the regime and its Russian allies has slowed.
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"It has gotten better only in the sense that the shelling stopped," Juventus said. "The cease-fire did stop the shelling, but the price was that we had to leave our homes. People's hearts are broken as they are now forced into exile from their place of birth and hometown."
The difference between pre- and post-war Aleppo is stark.
The Old City of Aleppo was known for its marketplaces.
The city also had Western-looking malls with familiar chains.
But the city is now in ruins. Some of its historic mosques have been severely damaged.
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A mall that was one of the largest commercial shopping centers in Syria was damaged amid regime airstrikes.
The scale of destruction in Aleppo is stunning, but rebels have vowed to keep fighting the oppressive Assad regime.
"Syria is now in a state of war, which is wins and losses. This is Syria for now," Juventus said. "The revolution is still alive even though our future is unknown. As long as the regime continues to massacre people, we will continue."
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