CNN exclusive: In rebel-held Aleppo, residents suspect Syria truce a trick

Clarissa Ward
By Clarissa Ward and Susannah Cullinane, CNN
5 minute read
Updated 11:01 AM EST, Mon February 29, 2016
rare look at syria ceasefire ward pkg_00003525.jpg
Video Ad Feedback
Rare access to rebel-held Aleppo
02:05 - Source: CNN

Please tune in to CNN to see Clarissa Ward’s full series of exclusive reports from inside Syria.

Story highlights

A CNN team gained exclusive access to rebel-held territory around Aleppo, Syria

CNN's Clarissa Ward was on the ground when "cessation of hostilities" came into effect

Aleppo, Syria CNN  — 

There has been a dramatic decrease in airstrikes around Syria’s rebel-held territory since a truce negotiated between Syrian rebels and the government went into effect.

But on the ground, where CNN has had rare access over the past week, few are celebrating, with many residents suspecting a trick, and some claiming the “cessation in hostilities” is a betrayal of those who have given their lives in the uprising.

Syria’s cessation of hostilities explained

CNN senior international correspondent Clarissa Ward traveled to rebel-held territory around Aleppo days ahead of the agreed break in fighting to witness the impact it had once it was implemented Friday.

She is virtually the only Western journalist to have gone to the area – heavily bombarded in recent months by Russian airstrikes in support of pro-regime forces – in more than a year.

The cessation of hostilities between a handful of rebel groups and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began Friday, excluding terrorist groups such as ISIS and al Nusra Front.

Streets of Aleppo are relatively quiet on Saturday, February 27, after a temporary ceasefire takes effect. Sporadic violence between militants and some rebel groups was reported around the country, but it appeared to have diminished significantly.
Streets of Aleppo are relatively quiet on Saturday, February 27, after a temporary ceasefire takes effect. Sporadic violence between militants and some rebel groups was reported around the country, but it appeared to have diminished significantly.
KARAM ALMASRI For CNN
Residents in the Syrian city of Aleppo appear to enjoy an unusually calm and peaceful day as a temporary ceasefire takes effect.
Residents in the Syrian city of Aleppo appear to enjoy an unusually calm and peaceful day as a temporary ceasefire takes effect.
KARAM ALMASRI For CNN
Residents shot at a city market in Aleppo.
Residents shot at a city market in Aleppo.
KARAM ALMASRI For CNN
Children play in an Aleppo park.
Children play in an Aleppo park.
KARAM ALMASRI For CNN
A boy walks a hand truck through a heavily damaged area in Aleppo.
A boy walks a hand truck through a heavily damaged area in Aleppo.
KARAM ALMASRI For CNN
A boy rides a bike during the ceasefire.
A boy rides a bike during the ceasefire.
KARAM ALMASRI For CNN
Aleppo on the first day of the ceasefire

But the truce has not seen the airstrikes stop completely. When Ward’s team visited the town of Darat Izza on Aleppo’s outskirts, locals said there had been an airstrike on a house about 30 hours after the truce went into effect.

And while Ward said the number of airstrikes has slowed dramatically since the cessation of hostilities began, residents are far from optimistic.

“Firstly, in the run-up to this cessation of hostilities there was a dramatic increase in the intensiveness … of Russian aerial bombardment and also of the regime warplanes of Bashar al-Assad,” she said, adding she had witnessed a Russian airstrike on a market that killed at least eight people days before the truce.

“Secondly, the people living in rebel territory don’t trust the Assad regime and see this cessation of hostilities as a trick designed so that the regime can take more territory,” she said.

“For that reason, many people we’ve spoken to are in fact actually against the ceasefire.”