The city of Homs in western Syria has been wracked by years of conflict, having stood at the epicenter of the uprising and subsequent civil war against dictator Bashar al-Assad.

It is Syria’s third-largest city, but even after the last rebels pulled out of Homs in December, few of the tens of thousands who fled have returned.

Haunting images from a drone flown above the ruined city show a few children playing among post-apocalyptic scenes. In effect, the city – which is the capital of Homs Province – has been reduced to rubble.