Homs, formerly Syria's third-largest city, is now a concrete wasteland after three years of war — including two years of siege by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The last of the rebel fighters, some of whom were among the first to take up arms against Assad's regime, left the last opposition-held enclaves last week in a negotiated deal.

Considered the capital of Syria's revolution after being one of the first places to hold large demonstrations in March 2011, Homs is now an urban graveyard.

Here are a few photos from throughout the war that show how a blockade and merciless bombardment from Assad's warplanes pounded Homs into submission: