A city of kings and empires
The roots of milk can be traced back more than 8,000 years. Even in ancient times, Aleppo was known for its strategic location, located at the crossroads of ancient trade routes connecting the Mediterranean Sea with Mesopotamia, Egypt and Anatolia (Turkey region). This made Aleppo not only a thriving commercial center but also a symbol of cultural and intellectual exchange. Its citadel, perched high above the city, dates back to at least the 3rd millennium BC, a testament to the city’s continued importance in the region.
Throughout its long history, Aleppo has been ruled by a succession of empires, from the Hittites and Assyrians to the Romans, Byzantines and later, the Ottomans. Each of these powers left their mark on the city – magnificent palaces, magnificent mosques and medieval markets such as Al-Madinah Market, which once attracted merchants from all over the world. These architectural wonders, still shone in the cityscape before the start of the war, echoing the city’s role as a living remnant of human history.
But Aleppo’s history has not only been defined by its monumental buildings. The city also had rich and diverse communities, each of which contributed to its identity. Among the most significant of them was the Jewish community, which was an integral part of the social fabric of Aleppo for hundreds of years. The Jewish presence in the city dates back to ancient times, with a community that flourished during the Middle Ages and under Ottoman rule. At its peak, Aleppo’s Jewish population was one of the largest in Syria.
Unlike the Jewish community of Damascus which was considered more secular, the Jews of Aleppo were known for their religious tradition, as the city became a center for the study of Jewish texts and traditions. The community flourished economically, mainly thanks to its location on the trade routes, and for generations Halab was a place where Jews lived in relative peace with their Muslim and Christian neighbors, and their fate was intertwined with the ebb and flow of the city’s prosperity.
But this harmony was shattered in the middle of the 20th century. With the rise of tensions in the Middle East, especially after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, when the Jewish population of Aleppo began to decrease. Anti-Semitic feelings grew, and waves of violence, severe riots and persecution pushed the remaining Jews to flee. By the 1990s, the once bright Jewish community had almost disappeared, and the synagogues that had stood as beacons of faith for centuries were destroyed.
When destruction becomes routine
Milk’s decline in modern times was just as painful, though for different reasons. In the early years of the Syrian civil war, Aleppo found itself at the center of the conflict. The city’s strategic importance, both geographically and symbolically, made it a prize for both the Syrian government and rebel forces. In 2012, with the escalation of the war, the city was divided into two areas: West Aleppo under the control of the government and East Aleppo under the control of the rebels.
What followed was a brutal siege, a year-long battle that turned the city into a battlefield. While the rebel forces held their ground in the east, regime forces – backed by Russian airstrikes – launched devastating campaigns to recapture the city. By the time Aleppo fell into the hands of the government in 2016, the city was reduced to a shadow of itself. The death toll was astronomical, and thousands of civilians were caught in the crossfire. The once bustling streets were now littered with rubble. The city’s historical landmarks, such as the Old Aleppo Citadel and the Great Mosque, suffered severe damage or total destruction.
In the years that have passed since the fall of the city, Halab’s wounds have not healed. Reconstruction was slow, and much of the city is still in ruins. The cultural loss was enormous; Monuments that had stood for centuries were destroyed in the blink of an eye, and the daily lives of the citizens of Aleppo remained caught in the uncertain balance between post-conflict recovery and ongoing tensions. Even as some parts of the city gradually came back to life, Halab’s soul seems to have been lost. This is a city where the scars of war are engraved in every building, in every corner. The markets are quieter, the sounds of the muezzin are less frequent, and the hum of trading has been replaced by voices of mourning.
Extreme forces and an uncertain future
At the moment, Halab as usual stands at a crossroads. Rebel forces hold the city, and many have a fragile sense of resistance, a hope that perhaps this great, once glorious city can rise from the ashes. But this hope is tempered by reality, alongside the fact that the rebels themselves hold extreme ideologies. Aleppo is a city torn between its glorious past and its uncertain future. The old city and its UNESCO World Heritage sites are now ghosts struggling to keep what little they have left.
Aleppo is a city that embodies the wider tragedy of Syria – an ancient, multicultural and rich civilization torn apart by modern conflicts, internal and cynical control struggles and above all external interests of countries that see it as a step towards fulfilling their own vision. The fall of Aleppo is not just the fall of another city; This is the downfall of history, a tragedy that has been going on for many generations.