Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to Independent Premium.

Keep me logged in

Please enter an email address

Log in directly with The Independent

Log in using your social network account

Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email

I would like to receive morning headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email

Register with your social account or click here to log in

Email already exists. Log in to update your newsletter preferences

Fill out this field

Please enter an email address

No hype, just the advice and analysis you need

Syrian troops drove insurgents from central Homs on Monday, tightening their siege on remaining rebel bastions in the strategically important city, which links Damascus to the Mediterranean heartland of President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect. The fighting has devastated the city, leaving buildings in ruins.

The inside of the Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque in the heavily disputed northern neighborhood of Khaldiyeh in Homs, Syria

Destruction in the Khalidiyah neighbourhood of Syria's central city of Homs. Government forces bolstered by Lebanese Shiite militiamen were poised to retake the largest rebel-held district of Syria's third city Homs, a watchdog and state media said

Rubble seen inside the damaged Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque, in al-Khalidyya neighborhood, Homs, Syria

Destruction in the central Syrian city of Homs. The Syrian regime said its troops recaptured a rebel district of Homs, a key symbol of the country's revolt, after a relentless month-long offensive

An armed government forces vehicle with text on it reading in Arabic: "Assad's Syria", which refers to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. The vehicle is in the Khalidiyah neighbourhood of Syria's central city of Homs

Destruction in the Khalidiyah neighbourhood of Syria's central city of Homs. Government forces bolstered by Lebanese Shiite militiamen were poised to retake the largest rebel-held district of Syria's third city Homs

The Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque in the heavily disputed northern neighborhood of Khaldiyeh in Homs, Syria. Syrian government forces captured a historic mosque in the central city of Homs over the weekend

The district of Khaldiyeh in the central Syrian city of Homs. Black smoke can be seen ascending during fighting between rebel forces and pro-government troops

Syrian government forces patrol in the Khalidiyah neighbourhood of the central city of Homs

An aerial view of destruction in the al-Khalidiyah neighbourhood of the central Syrian city of Homs

The inside of the Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque in the heavily disputed northern neighborhood of Khaldiyeh in Homs, Syria

Destruction in the Khalidiyah neighbourhood of Syria's central city of Homs. Government forces bolstered by Lebanese Shiite militiamen were poised to retake the largest rebel-held district of Syria's third city Homs, a watchdog and state media said

Rubble seen inside the damaged Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque, in al-Khalidyya neighborhood, Homs, Syria

Destruction in the central Syrian city of Homs. The Syrian regime said its troops recaptured a rebel district of Homs, a key symbol of the country's revolt, after a relentless month-long offensive

An armed government forces vehicle with text on it reading in Arabic: "Assad's Syria", which refers to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. The vehicle is in the Khalidiyah neighbourhood of Syria's central city of Homs

Destruction in the Khalidiyah neighbourhood of Syria's central city of Homs. Government forces bolstered by Lebanese Shiite militiamen were poised to retake the largest rebel-held district of Syria's third city Homs

The Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque in the heavily disputed northern neighborhood of Khaldiyeh in Homs, Syria. Syrian government forces captured a historic mosque in the central city of Homs over the weekend

The district of Khaldiyeh in the central Syrian city of Homs. Black smoke can be seen ascending during fighting between rebel forces and pro-government troops

Syrian government forces patrol in the Khalidiyah neighbourhood of the central city of Homs

An aerial view of destruction in the al-Khalidiyah neighbourhood of the central Syrian city of Homs

right Created with Sketch.

left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch.

Apocalyptic images reveal the shocking scale of devastation in Syria

Already registered? Log in

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

Article bookmarked

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile