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Life returns to northern Aleppo region

Recreational facilities are being established in the Euphrates Shield region controlled by the Free Syrian Army amid relative stability.
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AZAZ, Syria — After years of war, life is returning to a large area of Aleppo province. Restaurants and resorts have opened to provide dining and recreational services to longtime residents and thousands of displaced people following the expulsion of the Islamic State (IS) under Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield; the businesses are also providing provided seasonal employment opportunities.

The region in question, controlled by the Free Syrian Army (FSA), represents just over 12% of the total surface area of Aleppo province. It includes major cities, each with a population of more than 100,000 — such as Azaz, al-Bab, Jarablus, Marea and al-Ghandoura — in addition to dozens of villages and towns.

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