PHOTO: A Free Syrian Army fighter and his wife stand in front of graffiti, “Coming Back — Love! 15/12/16”:


As residents prepared for removal from opposition areas of Syria’s largest city Aleppo this month, they left final messages. Some were of defiance, others were of love.

On December 15, a couple posed for their last photograph in front of the inscription, “To the Girl Who Shared the Siege With Me: I Love You”:

aleppo-wife-and-husband-message-12-16

On Christmas Day, after the final removals from eastern Aleppo, another person showed up at the same location, but his intention was far from celebrating love. Instead, a supporter of the Assad regime wanted to film himself, mocking the sentiment and vowing to track down those who left the message.

Where are you now? Aleppo is ours. We will follow you to Idlib.