BEIRUT: Syria's one-time economic hub Aleppo became the front line in a bitter civil war, and has been shattered by heavy fighting.
Opposition forces seized eastern parts of the city in July 2012, and government forces have battled to recapture them ever since.
Here are five aspects to the fight for Aleppo:
- Ancient city -
Aleppo is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, dating back to at least 4000 BC.
Benefitting from a strong manufacturing base, it was the Ottoman Empire's second biggest city in the 19th century.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986, Aleppo's citadel is a jewel of medieval Islamic architecture, though it was damaged by an explosion in July 2015.
Two years earlier, fighting destroyed the 11th century minaret of the Ummayad mosque, and the city's ancient covered market has suffered extensive damage as well.
- War comes to Aleppo -
In April and May 2011, thousands of students demonstrated in the city, echoing protests against President Bashar al-Assad's government that erupted elsewhere in Syria in March.
The protests were crushed but rebel fighters seized areas in the nearby countryside that they used as a base to drive into the city in July 2012.
Army troops staged a counterattack and retained control of western districts, leaving the city divided. Air strikes on rebel areas in the eastern half followed.
- Five-month siege -
Much of the city has been reduced to a wasteland by air and artillery attacks.
Since December 2013, the army has dropped hundreds of barrel bombs -- crude explosive devices that cause indiscriminate damage.
The rebels have retaliated with rocket fire on government-held neighbourhoods.
Since July 17, rebel districts have been under near-continuous siege by the army and 250,000 civilians have suffered from food and fuel shortages. Heavy shelling by the army has destroyed all established hospitals in the area.
- Regime offensive -
Government forces mounted several offensives to regain control of the whole city in the past months.
An assault launched on November 15 with Russian air support made swift gains, with government forces and allied militia capturing rebel neighbourhoods one by one. The iconic Old City fell on December 7.
More than 465 civilians have died in east Aleppo during the assault and another 142 have been killed by rebel rocket fire on government-held areas, according to a toll released on December 15 by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.
At least 34,000 people have been evacuated from rebel districts of Aleppo, the International Committee of the Red Cross says.
- Strategic prize -
Aleppo was Syria's biggest city before the war, and it lies at the crossroads of key land routes, making it a strategic prize for both sides.
Analysts say Assad was determined to retake Aleppo before US president-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
With his forces in control of the capital and Aleppo when Trump is inaugurated, Assad "may say replacing the regime is categorically out of the question", according to political analyst Mathieu Guidere.
With his victory in Aleppo, Assad controls the country's five biggest cities, giving him the upper hand if UN-brokered peace talks resume, analysts say.