Aleppo Graffiti Messages Of Defiance And Hope Uncovered In Syria As Evacuations Halted

'One day we will return.'
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Residents of Aleppo have left messages of defiance and anger for pro-government forces as civilians in the rebel-held city prepare to be taken to a border area.

Graffiti scrawled across bombed-out buildings and bullet-riddled shop fronts tell Assad’s government “our destroyed buildings are a testament to our resistance and your crimes”.

“One day we will return,” reads one message, which appears to have been written on a wall with marker pen.

Others denounce the “Russian occupation” while some appear to be love letters to those they lost or to their fallen city.

Images of the messages were shared on social media as attempts to ferry civilians remaining in Aleppo to a border area held by the opposition in Syria’s Idlib province were delayed.

Messages left behind on the walls of one of Aleppo's destroyed buildings "One day, we will return." pic.twitter.com/5hGBYj8DUW

— Fatima Said (@fattysaid) December 15, 2016

"Our destroyed buildings are a testament to our resistance and, your crimes." -Aleppo, 2016 pic.twitter.com/rqRkErQjkY

— Fatima Said (@fattysaid) December 15, 2016

The International Committee of the Red Cross says about 4,000 civilians were taken out of Aleppo on Thursday, while the Syrian state news agency says 2,300 opposition fighters and their families left the city the previous night.

The Associated Press reported Friday that thousands more were expected to leave Aleppo today under a cease-fire deal that effectively surrendered the last rebel-held part of the city to Syrian government control.

راجعين يا #حلب راجعين.. يا زهرة المساكين pic.twitter.com/VSRlAwIcRd

— عبيدة (@ObaydahAmer) December 15, 2016

Translation: (Tweet) We’ll come back #Aleppo, we’ll come back...you flower for the needy.

(Photo) We’ll come back home

مع السلامة يا يوم ❤#حلب#Aleppo pic.twitter.com/vtyNoXkyGW

— مصطفى سلطان (@MustafaSultan89) December 15, 2016

Translation: Goodbye mum.

"Under each destroyed building families buried with their dreams, buried by #Assad and allies"#A24 pic.twitter.com/ctJC076DzS

— Aleppo24 (@24Aleppo) December 15, 2016

Love me away from our city that got enough of oppression, hatred & death! Graffiti from #Aleppo #AssadWarCrimes pic.twitter.com/32Cpo4oEeO

— Susan Ahmad (@Susanavist) December 15, 2016

#Aleppo | Graffiti: ”Aleppo rebels will return to Aleppo” pic.twitter.com/gyGjv5TZK3

— Syria Today (@todayinsyria) December 15, 2016

سنرجع يوماً
عندما نكبر #حلب #Aleppo pic.twitter.com/e6rbERCPBz

— مصطفى سلطان (@MustafaSultan89) December 15, 2016

Translation: (Tweet) We will return one day. When we grow up #Aleppo

(Photo) We will return one day.

My friend Haleem n #aleppo graffitied a love letter 2 his girlfriend lives n Turkey: love me away from our destroyed home. Last day n siege! pic.twitter.com/AfTGauEHgf

— Zaina Erhaim (@ZainaErhaim) December 15, 2016

"To Assad supporters: Congratulations on the Russian occupation" pic.twitter.com/At902SQ7va

— Iyad el-Baghdadi (@iyad_elbaghdadi) December 15, 2016

"To her who spent this siege with me, I love you" pic.twitter.com/5ECH7Bc5dc

— Iyad el-Baghdadi (@iyad_elbaghdadi) December 15, 2016

"Down with Assad. We will return, God willing" pic.twitter.com/A6tRBRdXAw

— Iyad el-Baghdadi (@iyad_elbaghdadi) December 15, 2016

Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, says that more than 6,462 people, including more than 3,000 rebels and 301 wounded, have been taken out of Aleppo.

Latest reports from Aleppo suggest evacuations may have already been halted today, just hours after starting.

Syrian state TV said they had been suspended after rebels opened fire on a convoy at one of the crossing points of the rebel-held enclave.

It wasn’t immediately clear how long the suspension would last, AP reported.

Aleppo residents gather near buses evacuating them from the Syrian city on Thursday
Aleppo residents gather near buses evacuating them from the Syrian city on Thursday
ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Syrian state TV also claims the rebels tried to take with them captives they had seized and were holding in the rebel enclave.

Lebanon’s Al-Manar Hezbollah TV says the Syrian army stopped the process because the rebels had violated the cease-fire deal.

Hezbollah militiamen are fighting in the Syrian civil war alongside Assad’s forces.

The Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV says buses that were parked at the Ramouseh crossing point left the area after it was targeted by gunmen.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says about 4,000 civilians were taken out of Aleppo on Thursday
The International Committee of the Red Cross says about 4,000 civilians were taken out of Aleppo on Thursday
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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