Syria: Aleppo's Umayyad mosque destroyed - in pictures

The Umayyad mosque was famous for its minaret, destroyed on 24 April, which had stood since 1090
Photograph: Michele Falzone/Corbis

The mosque has been extensively damaged by the Syrian conflict and its walls have long borne traces of the conflict. Until recently, the minaret stood tall above the mosque Photograph: AP

Now the minaret has been brought down by shelling. Bashar al-Assad's regime and anti-government activists traded blame for the attack. It is the second time in just over a week that a historic Sunni mosque in Syria has been seriously damaged Photograph: AP

The Umayyad mosque complex has served as a key battleground since last July, with rebels who are seeking to oust Assad's regime repeatedly laying siege to the site. As seen here, the damaged arcades are strewn with debris Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

The complex is riddled with bullet holes Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

Syrian rebels pray before an operation against regime forces in November 2012 Photograph: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

A rebel moves through heavy rubble Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

Rebels take cover during clashes with regime forces Photograph: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images

Rebel fighters stand amid sandbags in a damaged section of the Umayyad mosque Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images