Residents return to the Old City of Homs, Syria, on Monday, May 12, 2014. A truce between the Syrian government and rebel forces in the strategic and symbolic city <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F05%2F07%2Fworld%2Fmeast%2Fsyria-truce-explain%2Findex.html">has gone into effect</a>, allowing many of its residents to come home for the first time in nearly two years. Homs has experienced some of the worst of the violence in <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F08%2F27%2Fworld%2Fmeast%2Fsyria-civil-war-fast-facts%2Findex.html">a bloody civil war</a> that has left more than 100,000 people dead and driven millions of people from their homes across the country.
Syrians return to Homs —
Residents return to the Old City of Homs, Syria, on Monday, May 12, 2014. A truce between the Syrian government and rebel forces in the strategic and symbolic city has gone into effect, allowing many of its residents to come home for the first time in nearly two years. Homs has experienced some of the worst of the violence in a bloody civil war that has left more than 100,000 people dead and driven millions of people from their homes across the country.
JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images
A man carries rolls of cloth out from a destroyed building in Homs on May 12.
Syrians return to Homs —
A man carries rolls of cloth out from a destroyed building in Homs on May 12.
JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images
Residents return to their destroyed neighborhood on May 12. Rebel forces in the Old City were under government siege for nearly two years before the deal to evacuate.
Syrians return to Homs —
Residents return to their destroyed neighborhood on May 12. Rebel forces in the Old City were under government siege for nearly two years before the deal to evacuate.
JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images
Destroyed vehicles line the streets of Homs on May 12.
Syrians return to Homs —
Destroyed vehicles line the streets of Homs on May 12.
JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images
A Syrian woman pushes a baby stroller packed with belongings past furniture left on the side of the street in the Old City on May 12.
Syrians return to Homs —
A Syrian woman pushes a baby stroller packed with belongings past furniture left on the side of the street in the Old City on May 12.
JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images
People pack the streets of Homs on May 12, days after the last rebel holdouts left the city.
Syrians return to Homs —
People pack the streets of Homs on May 12, days after the last rebel holdouts left the city.
JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images
Rescuers carry a man wounded by a mine in the Bustan al-Diwan neighborhood of Homs on Saturday, May 10, as thousands of Syrians returned to the city.
Syrians return to Homs —
Rescuers carry a man wounded by a mine in the Bustan al-Diwan neighborhood of Homs on Saturday, May 10, as thousands of Syrians returned to the city.
Associated Press
A Syrian woman carries a suitcase along a street in the Juret al-Shayah district of Homs on May 10.
Syrians return to Homs —
A Syrian woman carries a suitcase along a street in the Juret al-Shayah district of Homs on May 10.
AFP/Getty Images
Syrians return to the Hamidiyeh, a predominantly Christian neighborhood in Homs, on Friday, May 9.
Syrians return to Homs —
Syrians return to the Hamidiyeh, a predominantly Christian neighborhood in Homs, on Friday, May 9.
Stringer/AFP/Getty Images
Damage is seen inside the Um al-Zinar church in the Old City on May 9.
Syrians return to Homs —
Damage is seen inside the Um al-Zinar church in the Old City on May 9.
Stringer/AP
A resident surveys a damaged building in the Hamidiyeh neighborhood on May 9.
Syrians return to Homs —
A resident surveys a damaged building in the Hamidiyeh neighborhood on May 9.
Stringer/AFP/Getty Images
Two Syrian national flags fly overhead as government officials inspect the streets of war-torn Homs on Thursday, May 8, after the rebels withdrew from their remaining strongholds in the heart of the city.
Syrians return to Homs —
Two Syrian national flags fly overhead as government officials inspect the streets of war-torn Homs on Thursday, May 8, after the rebels withdrew from their remaining strongholds in the heart of the city.
Stringer/AP