The city of Raqqa symbolises the tragic fate of Syria over the past 12 years. From the start of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011, the northern city was a major target for rebel groups. It then became the stronghold of Islamic State group terrorists, who made Raqqa the capital of their self-proclaimed caliphate. The city went through three years of hell – suffering atrocities, public hangings and slave auctions – before being bombed and then liberated in 2017 by an international US-led coalition. Since then, the "Pearl of the Euphrates" has struggled to get back on track.
In the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, inhabitants face a severe economic crisis and are subject to endless international sanctions. Six years after the city was liberated by the international coalition led by the US military and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, essential infrastructure has been rebuilt and a semblance of normal life has returned.
But huge problems remain: fear of Islamist attacks and tensions between the Kurdish and Arab populations amid rising oil prices, water shortages and a food emergency. Some residents prefer to leave the city altogether.
We went to meet the people of Raqqa – including the poorest inhabitants – to understand how the future of this ancient, strategic city will play out.
Read moreReturning to the rubble in Raqqa
