Video captures the complete devastation of Homs - five years into Syria conflict

Footage shot yesterday in the ancient Syrian city of Homs shows the devastating effects of a conflict that has entered its fifth year.

Homs, the third largest city in Syria, has been the battleground between rebel groups and Bashar al-Assad’s forces, since early 2011.

The ancient city has become symbolic of the internal conflict in Syria.

Drone footage captured on Wednesday shows the horrifying extent of damage.

Homs was once dubbed the 'capital of the revolution' and was the scene of some of the first protests against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 (MAHMOUD TAHA/AFP/Getty Images)

A timeline of conflict:

Anti-government protests erupted in April 2011 with thousands of Homs residents taking part in demonstrations.

Assad’s forces continued to supress dissenters leading to a month-long bombardment of the south-western area of Baba Amr in February 2012.

The bombardment, which killed an estimated 700 people including a number of journalists, caused international outrage and over the next two years; it was a stalemate between both sides with rebel forces able to resist the government’s military action.

Since February 2014, ceasefires have been put in place and negotiations started regarding rebel forces evacuating the opposition-held areas in Homs.

In December 2015, rebels evacuated the western-suburb of al-Wair, the last area they controlled in the Old City.