People walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria March 12, 2009. Before the war, Aleppo's ancient walled citadel drew in armies of visitors to one of the Middle East's greatest treasures. But for the past four years the Citadel's high stone ramparts have been on the front line of fighting pitting the Syrian army and its allies against rebels who occupied much of the Old City surrounding the fortress. Sudden advances by the army led to a ceasefire last week and evacuation of insurgents and many civilians, ending the warfare in Aleppo and putting the city entirely into government hands. The fate of Aleppo, listed by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site, has been the subject of great anxiety for city residents, archaeologists, historians and travellers, even as they despair for the human suffering caused by the fighting. Reuters photographs from before and after the fighting reveal how the city has been scarred by years of air strikes, shelling, street fighting, fires and neglect. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





Men walk near damage inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria December 13, 2016. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





People walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria March 12, 2009. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





Damage is seen inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria December 13, 2016. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





A general view shows the entrance to al-Zarab souk in the Old city of Aleppo, Syria November 24, 2008. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





A general view shows damage on the entrance to al-Zarab souk in the Old city of Aleppo, Syria December 13, 2016. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





A woman carries an umbrella in al-Sheebani school, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria May 14, 2008. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





A general view shows damage in al-Sheebani school building, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria December 17, 2016. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





People attend a music concert in al-Sheebani school's courtyard, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria June 6, 2009. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





A general view shows damage in al-Sheebani school's courtyard, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria December 17, 2016. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





A general view shows the Old City of Aleppo, Syria November 24, 2008. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





A general view shows damage in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria December 13, 2016. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





People stand inside the Shahba Mall in Aleppo, Syria December 12, 2009. (Photo by Khalil Ashawi/Reuters)





A general view shows damage inside Shahba Mall, one of the largest commercial shopping centres in Syria, that was targeted by what activists said were air strikes by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in northern Aleppo countryside October 16, 2014. (Photo by Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters)





Visitors walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria October 6, 2010. (Photo by Khalil Ashawi/Reuters)





Men walk near damage inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria December 17, 2016. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





Customers, covered in towels, rest after taking a bath at Hamam El Nahasin, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria October 6, 2010. (Photo by Khalil Ashawi/Reuters)





A damaged chandelier lies on the ground at Hamam El Nahasin, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria December 17, 2016. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria, August 9, 2010. (Photo by Sandra Auger/Reuters)





A member of forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad stands in front of Aleppo's historic citadel, during a media tour, Syria December 13, 2016. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)