Before and after pictures that sum up the desperate situation in Aleppo

Ceasefire deal has seen people evacuated from eastern areas of the city

Much of Aleppo has been reduced to a scene of devastation and rubble (KARAM AL-MASRI/AFP/Getty Images)

As forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad retake the city of Aleppo, dramatic images are being shared showing the extent of destruction in Syria's largest city.

On Thursday, a convoy of ambulances carried the first group of wounded and other civilians away from eastern Aleppo.

Much of the city has been reduced to a scene of devastation and rubble.

A general view of the historic Syrian city of Aleppo, 350 kms north of Damascus, with its landmark citadel in the background (Getty)

A general view shows the city of Aleppo with its historical citadel (Reuters)

Pictures of the city's citadel, one of the oldest and larges castles in the world, showcase how Aleppo has changed drastically during the civil war.

An entrance to the Aleppo citadel on 18 March, 2006 (Getty)

A member of Syria's government forces gestures near the partially destroyed entrance of Aleppo's historical citadel (Getty)

The city has been the worst-hit during the Syrian civil war.

The Aleppo citadel on 18 March, 2006 (Getty)

A general view shows Aleppo's citadel, after government forces captured the area (Getty)

As Syrian regime forces regained control of the last areas of Aleppo, many took to social media to share before and after images of the city.

Syrian TV has broadcast live footage of a long convoy of ambulances and green buses driving through government territory and into a rural, rebel-held part of Aleppo province.

The evacuation is part of a ceasefire deal marking the end of the rebel's four-year control of eastern Aleppo as they surrender their foothold in the face of a devastating ground and air offensive by government forces, backed by Russian air strikes.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed and tens of thousands displaced during the government's campaign to retake the city.

The handover of Aleppo's remaining rebel-held distracts to Mr Assad's forces would constitute a turning point in Syria's neary six-year civil war, as he would control most of the country's urban centres.