Villages abandoned as Syrians flee northern Aleppo
The northern countryside of Aleppo has been emptied as thousands fled to surrounding areas following the intensification of the Islamic State attacks in August.
ALEPPO, Syria — Abu Sami sat in front of his tent in the periphery of Deir Jamal, in the countryside of northern Aleppo. His wrinkles and white hair at just 50 years old told a tale of suffering.
He warmly greeted us and insisted that we drink the tea he prepared over charcoal. “I am very pleased that there is someone who cares about us,” Abu Sami said before he started telling Al-Monitor about the long hassles of displacement.
Abu Sami, a pseudonym, is one of the thousands displaced in August from the towns of northern Aleppo near the line of contact between the opposition forces and the Islamic State (IS). This front extends over 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Syrian-Turkish border to the edge of the industrial city of Sheikh Najjar.
Hawar Killis, Tlalin, Kafra, Marea, Umm Hawsh, Herbel and dozens of other towns and villages in the northern Aleppo countryside have been emptied of their populations by IS attacks ongoing since Aug. 9.
