ALEPPO, Syria, Nov 20 (AFP): Once touted to become the biggest industrial zone in the Middle East, Sheikh Najjar near the ravaged Syrian city of Aleppo is now simply hoping for a second chance.
Most of its buildings have been reduced to carcasses -- destroyed, burned and pillaged during the past two years of fighting in Syria's former industrial powerhouse.
But with the government's recapture of the area, Aleppo's businessmen are taking their first steps to return and restore the once-bustling zone.
"The soldiers retook the industrial zone on July 7 and when we entered a week later, we saw the devastation. Some buildings had simply disappeared," said 55-year-old Mohamad Handie, the zone's director-general.
"Despite everything, we remain optimistic, because in the weeks that followed my arrival, I received many requests to return, rebuild, refurbish machines," he added.
"It was very encouraging."
Syria's civil war swept into Aleppo in mid-2012, and the fighting quickly divided the city between regime control in the west and rebel control of the east.
Sheikh Najjar, located to the northeast of the city, was in rebel hands and the scene of fierce battles until its recapture.
Near the industrial zone, the walls are still daubed with graffiti left behind by rebels, including the flags of the Islamic State jihadist group and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front.
"Freedom for us and hell for the Alawites," reads one slogan, referring to the religious community to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs.
The Syrian conflict that began in March 2011 has ravaged the country's economy and infrastructure.
