13 surprisingly serene images of Syrian rebels breaking from battle

When they're not risking their lives in their fight with Bashar al-Assad, these insurgents can be found sewing, preening, or playing pick-up soccer

A Free Syrian Army fighter sews in the streets of Aleppo on Feb. 24
(Image credit: REUTERS/Hamid Khatib)

Syria's bloody civil war will hit its two-year mark this March, and still, embattled despot Bashar al-Assad clings to power. The all-consuming war has left more than 70,000 people dead — half of them civilians. Sadly, violent conflict has become the new normal in much of Syria, and it's often only while taking refuge behind Aleppo's crumbled, pock-marked walls that Free Syria Army fighters can indulge in fleeting moments of their previous lives. Have a look:

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Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.