The medieval citadel is the symbol of Aleppo. In military uniform, Abu Mohammed Al-Joulani, leader of the radical Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTC, Levant Liberation Organization), made a surprise visit on Wednesday, December 4. He now holds the keys to this large city in northern Syria, where a coalition led by his men has taken control, following a lightning offensive to which pro-regime forces offered no resistance.

HTC, the former branch of al-Qaida in Syria, is stepping up actions and words to reassure the population. The organization's leader initially called on fighters to "respect civilians." In an interview with the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank, he maintained that, from now on, the city would be administered by a transitional authority, including civilians. The challenge is colossal for the most powerful group in Idlib province: Aleppo, a multi-faith city, is home to some 2 million inhabitants.

In the streets, the fighters are taking care of their image. "[On Tuesday], they were handing out leaflets with a telephone number to contact in the event of health problems, access to water, etc.," reported Noura, an Aleppo resident speaking out under a pseudonym for security reasons. "In town, we're seeing armed militia and men in civilian clothes who are linked to them. The situation is still chaotic." According to her, the fear of going out during the first few days, when a night-time curfew was imposed, has eased, but Aleppo has not yet returned to its usual bustle. Some stores are keeping their shutters down. "Prices have soared. Food is still available, but we're worried about what's to come: will stocks be replenished?" The Syrian pound has plummeted in the city. Schools remain closed.

After being cut off for two days, the water supply returned on Monday. Electricity is available for more hours than when the regime administered the city – a possible consequence of the fact that the energy-intensive industrial city is shut down. Internet access was interrupted for more than 10 hours on Monday and continues to fluctuate. Garbage collection has resumed. "Some civil servants have already returned to their offices," said Mahmoud Bitar, a Syrian refugee in Turkey who maintains personal links with Aleppo. "They've been promised a much higher salary than they were receiving before. There's a desire to bring the city back to as normal a life as possible."

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