The devastated Syrian City of Homs has been finally surrendered by rebels as the residents made their way back into their homes.
Once labeled as the 'capital of the revolution', many residents are now surveying the city for the remains of the war between the rebels and the government forces. The scenes that greeted the people were the typical view of a post-war arena. Dusts are everywhere, shattered bricks piled up and many car remains were stacked with each other.
The apocalyptic view of the devastated Syrian city may be frightening, but in reality it is a sign of victory that Syrians have been wanting for so long. After two years of fighting against the rebel forces, the Syrian government has finally regained control over the area. The feud between the two opposing forces has killed more than 150,000 individuals since March 2011.
About 300 rebels left the city on Friday afternoon as part of the agreement which stated that the control of the area will be handed to President Bashar Assad. Before the departure of the last group of rebels happened on Friday, government bulldozers were already clearing the post-war path. It is said to be the first time that the government troops were able to penetrate the devastated Syrian city that was once ruled by the rebels.
On Saturday, it was declared by Homs provincial governor Talal al-Barazi that the evacuated area is now safe. Residents quickly came to see the remains of their home and retrieved whatever they can. Many of them were greatly distressed with the degree of damage that the war has brought in their area.
Furthermore, the victory in the devastated Syrian city is also viewed as an edge for President Bashar Assad. He is expected to win the June 3 election while the campaign starts on Sunday. Assad is one of the three candidates for the presidential election. Other candidates for the position included Maher Abdel Hafiz Hajjar, an independent MP from the northern city of Aleppo, and Hassan Abdullah al-Nuri, a Damascus businessman.
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