In 2014, Syria’s regime managed opening up a new off-road gateway into Aleppo city. Damascus loyalists then dubbed the route, “Aleppo artery,” after opposition factions had cut off the Aleppo-Damascus main road.
The new route plays a major role in exacting regime influence, being a rich resource for regime forces and militias that allows them to collect "royalties" and ransom money. Far from being a lively artery, the route ironically is paved with life-threatening risks.
Starting off from Damascus, the route connects to Homs, then Hama through the villages of Idlib, leading up to Aleppo.
The original main route runs about 400 km long, but the newly opened road goes up to 600 km.
Although the distance between Damascus and the center of Homs is smooth for by-passers, there is a state of great terror in the hearts of travelers approaching the peaceful countryside east of the city of Aleppo.
Fear spikes even more in the countryside when approaching the area between Sheikh Hilal and Ithriyah.
During the Syrian Civil War, Ithriyah became a strategically important point. It lays on the last highway under government control connecting the city of Aleppo to Khanasir and the Salamiyah region.
It is an arid desert, with cars that are destroyed by battles and arbitrary checkpoints installed, often run by local combatants loyal to the regime.
Collecting tariffs, checkpoints need to gather a regime-imposed sum of money before allowing vehicles inside.
In areas where checkpoints exist, vehicles move at remarkable speeds attempting to escape paying fees and surpass pro-regime militias.
“None can escape standing at these checkpoints because vehicles operated by militias are modern and can tackle high-speed chases and intercept escapees,” a local told Asharq Al-Awsat.
More so, in case of an attempted evasion of the checkpoint, the driver will be paying a doubled royalty. Not only will those attempting to avoid paying up the militias need to do so in double, but will also do so after receiving various kinds of insults, hours in detention, and some extent of physical brutality.
After bypassers pay their dues, they are then allowed a safe crossing into Aleppo and its outer skirts, local residents told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“As darkness fell, cars driving through the area are less due to frequent kidnaps, aimed at collecting ransom took place,” one resident said.
Speaking under the condition of anonymity, the resident explained that the militia-infested route is described by most people as a "no return" route.
