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Note to teachers: For a shorter lesson, stop video at 3:56.
- The Syrian Civil War began in 2011 and is being fought primarily between the government of President Bashar al-Assad and its allies and an assortment of Syrian rebel groups.
- The city of Aleppo has been a focus of the fighting for several years as government and rebel forces battle for control of Syria’s largest city, causing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee.
- Russian and Syrian airstrikes have destroyed much of eastern Aleppo, where rebel forces have maintained control for since fighting there began.
- Now, a deal has been reached between the opposing sides to evacuate the civilians and rebel fighters remaining in Eastern Aleppo to rebel-held areas in northern Syria.
- The United Nations and human rights groups have voiced concerns over reports that civilians are being executed in some parts of Eastern Aleppo.
- Although regaining control of Aleppo is a major victory for Assad’s army, opposition remains strong in other part of the country and the war is far from over.
Class discussion questions
- Essential question: Where is Aleppo? What do you know about the Syrian Civil War?
- Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Aleppo, but millions more have fled fighting in other parts of Syria. How has this impacted the rest of the world?
- Why do you think both sides of the conflict agreed to let civilians and fighters in eastern Aleppo leave?
