Syria's largest city is also the biggest symbol of the damage wrought by the conflict. New drone footage showing Aleppo's neighbourhoods of rubble have been headlined as "shocking" but to those who have been watching the steady grind of artillery fire and barrel bombs it comes as no real surprise.
The Economist described the Aleppo as a "shadow of its former self". History is being made; history as a world heritage site is being erased by high explosives and a ceaseless exchange of small arms fire.
The rise and rise of ISIL has focused attention to the east and the narratives of Kobane and Raqqa. Aleppo lacks a unifying theme and its complex array of opposition groups controlling different neighbourhoods and streets is perhaps best displayed in the maps that show how fractured the city has become.