Aleppo has traditionally been seen as Syria 's most important city after Damascus , and was an important center to members of Syria 's democratic and secular opposition as well as the armed Islamist opposition . The city was the scene of the Aleppo Artillery School massacre in June 1979 , and also witnessed running battles and clashes between government security forces and the Islamist opposition in Autumn 1979 . Armed cells of radical Islamist opposition attacked police patrols and government as a result , Syrian 's government military and security forces launched a crackdown resulting in many casualties
Aleppo Artillery School massacre
Aleppo Artillery School massacre
Siege of Aleppo (1980)