What’s Happened to the Rebels in Aleppo?

February 11, 2014

Sarah Childress

In Aleppo, the government has retaken the western part of the city, allowing some civilians to return to find what’s left of their homes and belongings. The eastern half of the city is still controlled by the Free Syrian Army, which continues to fight a war on two fronts: the ISIS forces on one side, and the government army on the other.

Recently, the government began dropping barrel bombs, or drums packed with explosives and shrapnel, from the air into Aleppo’s rebel territory. One of the drums fell on a makeshift school, killing at least 15 boys, according to the opposition.

Meanwhile, the rebels featured in Children of Aleppo continue their fight. Here’s what we know about what’s happened to them:

ABU ALI, the father of Mohammed, Helen, Farah and Sara, was kidnapped in December by ISIS militants. He was taken to a prison, where because of his medical training, he was made to treat injured detainees. ISIS has been known to torture and even kill rival rebel commanders, and there were rumors that Abu Ali had been executed. But he was eventually rescued by the Free Syrian Army, and has since returned to his family in Aleppo, where he continues to fight the Syrian regime.