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Post: A resident of Aleppo described the damage to the castle’s tower in the earthquake.

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Aleppo Citadel. archive photo

Bridge tower of Aleppo fortress slightly damaged in earthquake

ALEPPO (Syria), 11 February – RIA Novosti. The bridge tower of the Aleppo fortress – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – suffered minor damage during an earthquake in Syria, a city resident told RIA Novosti.

A local resident on the castle’s bridge tower said, “We are now at the gates of the castle. As we can see, a few stones have fallen here.”

The tower was erected on the outside of the 30-metre defensive ditch. Judging by the surviving inscription, it was built in the 16th century, most likely on the site of a door that was there earlier. Behind it begins an eight-arched bridge leading to the hill.

Thomas Mallar, previously the press attaché for UNESCO, told RIA Novosti that the organization will commission experts to assess the damage caused by the earthquake to cultural heritage sites in Syria and Turkey.

The historical Gaziantep Castle, Diyarbakır Castle and Hevsel Gardens in Turkey and Aleppo Castle in Syria were shaken by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake on Monday morning. Diyarbakir Castle, Hevsel Gardens and Aleppo Castle are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The fort in Aleppo was liberated from militants in 2013. Getting there was only possible through a secret tunnel south of the old city while fighting was still going on in the city. The central entrance and the entire northern and western part of the historic center came under the control of terrorists.

Militants regularly dug tunnels to recapture the fort. During the battles for the city, they undermined one of the walls of the fortress, placing a powerful explosive charge, but managed to displace the government troops. In addition, the historical complex was damaged as a result of the constant rocket and mortar attacks by the radicals.

After the complete liberation of Aleppo from terrorists at the end of 2016, the Aleppo fortress was reopened to visitors.

Source: Ria

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