Feature: Aleppo celebrates liberation anniversary amid huge public turnout

People hold Syrian national flags during the anniversary celebration of the liberation of Aleppo on the Saadallah al-Jabiri square in Aleppo city, northern Syria, on Dec. 21, 2017. The anniversary celebration also included a military parade and the families of the "martyrs" who have lost their lives during the war, holding up posters featuring the photos of their slain sons and relatives. Last year's battle of Aleppo was a turning point in the course of actions in the Syrian crisis, due to the strategic importance of the city, which was the economic capital of Syria and where most of the country's industry was located. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)