IN PHOTOS: The Syrian catastrophe continues

Photographs: Reuters

With violence intensifying, children massacred and often used as 'human shields', and international pressure groups absolutely clueless on how to restrict the mass bloodshed, the war in Syria is just drifting from bad to worse.

Bashar Al Assad's unpopular government has been alleged to unleash a reign of violence -- bloodier than ever before -- on the rebel troops. However, the lives of millions of common Syrians have been irrevocably damaged.

The popular uprising against more than five decades old Ba'ath Party government, which began as a part of the wider Arab Spring movement in January 2011, has taken the lives of at least 20,000 people till date, injuring thousands others.

The United Nations has already termed the situation in Syria as a 'civil war' and has warned of an alarming escalation of violence. But the combined efforts of UN and other countries to stall the brutality in Syria has been entangled in international diplomacy and proved futile till now.

Rediff.com brings forth some photographs of the latest violence in war-torn Syria.

Damaged buildings are seen in Homs in this May 24 picture. This western city, about 100 kms north of capital Damascus has been one of the epicentres of the military operation against rebels and has witnessed widespread casualties and devastation.

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Tags: Syria , United Nations , Al Assad , Damascus

IN PHOTOS: The Syrian catastrophe continues

Photographs: Reuters

A man walks past damaged buildings in war-torn Homs on June 2. The Syrian army has been able to regain most of the city -- also known as 'The Capital of Revolution' by the opposition – from the rebels following prolonged violence and bombardment.

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IN PHOTOS: The Syrian catastrophe continues

Photographs: Reuters

Smoke rises from the Al Qusoor district of Homs in this handout picture following heavy shelling by the Syrian army.

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Tags: Al Qusoor , Homs

IN PHOTOS: The Syrian catastrophe continues

Photographs: Reuters

Debris of a classroom in a school damaged by government forces, according to the opposition, are seen in Al Qasseer city, near Homs.

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IN PHOTOS: The Syrian catastrophe continues

Photographs: Reuters

A general view of buildings, which according to the opposition were damaged by the government's army, at Juret al-Shayah in Homs.

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Tags: Juret al-Shayah , Homs

IN PHOTOS: The Syrian catastrophe continues

Photographs: Reuters

Buildings damaged by the government army, according to the opposition, are seen at Bab Dreeb in Homs.

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IN PHOTOS: The Syrian catastrophe continues

Photographs: Khaled al- Hariri/Reuters

Syrian women walk at the Baba Amr neighbourhood of Homs during a United Nations observers' visit. The United Nations is accelerating deployment of unarmed observers to Syria to monitor a shaky UN-backed ceasefire.

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Tags: United Nations , OUnited Nations , Baba Amr , Homs