The old neighbourhoods of Homs, located in the centre of the city, have been under attack by government forces for weeks now.

The troops of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been attempting to regain control of opposition-held areas there, and have so far managed to consolidate control over several neighbourhoods.

Constant shelling by government forces and clashes with rebels at the edges of these neighbourhoods have left most of Old Homs in ruins.

The area contains the city’s oldest mosques and churches and was one of the few districts in Homs that retained its older look.

Scores have reportedly been killed in these neighbourhoods and hundreds of families displaced.