AL-BAB, Syria — The city of al-Bab, located 38 kilometers (roughly 24 miles) northeast of Aleppo, has come back to life following months of bombings and battles that ended with the Islamic State’s withdrawal Feb. 23. The city subsequently fell under the control of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) as part of Operation Euphrates Shield launched on Aug. 24.

In a statement April 17, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed that this operation will not be the first — nor the last — in the region.

There are several FSA checkpoints on the way to al-Bab, and the destruction becomes more evident upon entering the city, where bulldozers and trucks are actively removing the piles of rubble and residents are repairing their properties and homes.

IS insisted on clinging to al-Bab, given its strategic importance; al-Bab, which is densely populated, would provide IS with enough fighters who were recruited after undergoing Sharia training. This led the city to witness continuous fighting from December into February amid heavy Turkish aircraft and artillery bombings, Russian aircraft attacks and raids by the US-led international coalition.