Feature: People in Syria's Aleppo receive nationwide truce with different opinions

People in government-controlled areas in the northern city of Aleppo have different opinions about the ceasefire that went into force Monday evening, as those who have suffered by the rebels highly doubt the prospects of the truce, while the better-offs wish the truce could succeed.

Those living in areas that are frequently targeted by the rebels' mortar shelling and rocket fire say they don't trust the rebels, as previous attempts to establish a pacification in Aleppo have largely failed.

They say each time a truce is declared, the rebels take advantage of the situation to regroup and bring in more weapons.

On Monday, several mortars slammed into residential areas in government-controlled districts in western Aleppo, leaving at least two people killed and over 29 others wounded.

In the Jamilliyeh district, in a street called Azbakiyeh, several mortars landed on Monday, just hours ahead of the implementation of the U.S.-Russian backed truce.

Glass was scattered everywhere, with blood spots seen everywhere.

Cries of little children, and the frantic voices of their parents could be heard in the street, which became deserted of passersby following the mortar attacks, which also coincided with the first day of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, or the Feast of Sacrifice.

Ibrahim Khalil went out trying to cross the street to his neighbors to check on them, just minutes after a mortar hit at 6:30 p.m., half an hour ahead of the ceasefire implementation.

Kahil, a 43-year-old father of two, told Xinhua he doesn't believe in the truce.

"A couple of hours ago, a mortar hit the building and half an hour later another mortar shell hit the same area, leaving injuries, and we are still hearing the mortars slamming nearby."

Regarding the truce, he said "so far there is no such a thing as a truce in Aleppo, because mortar shells are still falling. When they say truce, it means a relief for the people, but if the mortar shells continued to land here, I am against it. We need a curb to the bloodshed."

"We are against the truce, because whenever there is a truce, the rebels start recollecting themselves and amassing weapons and manpower again and they shell Aleppo again. Every time there is a truce, the people are the ones who pay the price," he said, trying to end the conversation as he was fearing another mortar would hit soon.

He said the view of blood has become normal in Aleppo, as "every family in Aleppo has an injured one or a martyr."

Another man, on a wheel chair, from Azbakiyeh told Xinhua the rebels have no mercy for the civilians they are shelling.

"The rebels don't have mercy on us, why should we be merciful with them? I was injured during the war in Aleppo. Today just an hour ahead of the ceasefire, a mortar shell landed on an area where children were playing," he said.

"We don't want a truce, the army has a big arsenal, they should eliminate them and rid us of those terrorists," he demanded.

His wife, a 31-year-old woman, who has six children, said her kids don't know the spirit of the holiday, which used to be full of joy and peace.

"We have been suffering so hard since yesterday. They kept shelling this area. I don't think they will abide by the truce. I think that the truce won't work because every time there is a truce, they (rebels) become more violent. I don't trust the rebels, and I won't let my children out even after the ceasefire," she told Xinhua.

"My children have been traumatized by the attacks. My children were deprived from the joy of Eid, this is not a life," she said.

Those were people who have suffered until half an hour ahead of the truce.

In the fortunate district of Furkan, where coffee shops are scattered everywhere, with young men and women strolling down the streets there, university students and some higher class people were feverishly hoping for a successful truce.

Muhammad Burri, a Syrian merchant, said he believes in the truce, and has a firm belief it will work.

"I say I hope the truce could be implemented and I believe it will be successful because the truce is the only way out of this violence. I believe the truce will hold and will curb the bloodletting," he told Xinhua.

For his part, Maher, a university student from Aleppo, also shared the same optimism, saying "we have hope that this truce will be successful, despite the fact that previous efforts to establish a ceasefire have failed. We really wish to see a halt of violence and battles to our countries."

Bashar, a 20-year-old Syrian student, hoped for a true truce, saying he has not enjoyed his youth as others in his age do in other countries.

"As a young man living in Syria, it's extremely hard for me to find a chance or opportunity to build a future amid this war. As a young man, I have been displaced from my home, I was parted from dear ones as a result of this war. I really wish this truce could work out well, so that people like me can think only of building a bright future in a healthy environment," he said.

Another student, Khalil, expressed both conflicting feelings, about his wish of a successful truce, and his firm belief that only the military solution would settle the situation in Syria.

"I really wish the truce would be successful, but in my opinion nothing will resolve this crisis but the military solution. Aleppo was known as being the mother of the world, we miss the old Aleppo. I really think that even though the truce is welcomed, but the military solution, in my opinion, is the ultimate solution," he added.

As the truce went into effect at 7:00 p.m., following a military statement stating the beginning of a seven-day regime of silence, the streets of Aleppo was quiet, in terms of the frequent sound of shelling from both parties.

This truce is not the first, as a previous one was also concluded last February, as a result of a joint U.S. and Russian support. That truce held well near Damascus, but was quick to fall apart in Aleppo.

Aleppo, Syria's largest city and once an economic hub, is so important due to its strategic location near Turkey, in addition of being an industrial city.

The city has become carved out between the rebels in the eastern parts and the government in the western ones.

Over the past few months, the rebels unleashed wide-scale offensives to strip the government of key areas in Aleppo and its countryside, managing to control a series of military bases in the southern countryside of Aleppo, and succeeding in breaking the government siege on rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo.

The government mounted a counter-offensive last month, succeeding recently to recapture all fallen military bases in southern Aleppo, in addition to re-placing the siege on rebel-held areas in the eastern part of that war-torn city. Endit