The city of Aleppo has fallen under the control of opposition militias following a swift and unexpected offensive.
Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo, Joseph Tobji, speaking to Fides News Agency, described the city as being in a state of “limbo,” with residents left in uncertainty about what comes next.
“After three days of attacks, the so-called opposition militias have taken over the city. Now everything is quiet. The city is in limbo. And nobody tells us anything,” Archbishop Tobji said.
Despite the cessation of active fighting, he expressed gratitude that there was “no bloodshed at the moment, thank God.”
The Archbishop confirmed that Syrian army forces have left the city, which is now under the control of armed groups, including jihadist factions.
“There are rumors about the arrival of Syrian army troops, but nothing is certain. We live in uncertainty,” he added.
Although videos and photos of the militia’s takeover have circulated widely on social media, Archbishop Tobji noted that Christian institutions have so far remained untouched.
“For the moment, we are calm, but we do not know what will happen. It is as if the whole city is living in limbo,” he said. Churches continue to hold services, and no direct attacks on Christian targets have been reported.
The offensive, which took the city by surprise, disrupted what had been a period of relative calm.
“Life here started up again. The situation was calm, but now everything is closed. The shops, the bakeries… People do not know how to make ends meet and they have not stocked up. Nobody warned us,” Archbishop Tobji said.
Father Hugo Alaniz, a missionary with the Institute of the Incarnate Word, also provided an update on the situation. “Almost the entire city of Aleppo is in the hands of the rebels,” he confirmed.
Despite the challenges, religious leaders, including Father Alaniz and Bishop Hanna, the Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo for Catholics of the Latin Rite, have continued their pastoral visits to parishes.
“This morning, we set out together with Bishop Hanna and visited some of our parishes, and we will continue our tours in the coming hours. At the moment everyone is fine, thank God,” Father Alaniz said.
In the area surrounding the bishop’s residence, members of religious orders, including Carmelites and sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, are caring for 60 elderly individuals.
Meanwhile, students from the local residence and other religious women have relocated to safer areas within the city.
“And everyone,” Father Alaniz added, “asks for prayers.”
As the city adjusts to its new reality, the humanitarian situation remains precarious. With shops and bakeries shuttered and no clear plan for relief, residents face mounting challenges in their daily lives.
The unexpected nature of the offensive and the lack of communication from authorities have added to the unease.
