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Syrians returned to the destroyed city of Palmyra this week after being forced to flee almost a year ago during intense fighting.

With the city now free of Islamic State fighters, the government allowed time for residents to salvage their belongings.

The demolished UNESCO-listed ancient ruins are inaccessible to the public as the Russian military teams clear the site of hundreds of mines left by the militants.

Syrian army soldiers stand on the ruins of the Temple of Bel in the historic city of Palmyra, in Homs Governorate, Syria, April 1.

A journalist stands at the remains of the Temple of Bel in the historic city of Palmyra, Syria. April 1.

A view shows the damage at the Monumental Arch in the historical city of Palmyra, in Homs Governorate, Syria, April 1.

A pile of rubble where explosives from the Islamic State group leveled the stone walls and most of the Roman columns supporting the triumphal arches of the city gate in Palmyra, Syria, April 2.

A Russian army sapper demines the territory in the historical part of Palmyra, Syria, April 7.

A Russian army sapper works at the historic part of Palmyra, Syria on April 9.

The Palmyra citadel is seen in the background as Syrian families load their belongings onto a bus in the town of Palmyra.

Syrian families wait to load their belongings onto a bus in Palmyra.

A view of the Great Colonnade in the ancient city of Palmyra on April 9.

Residents carry belongings they collected from their damaged homes as they walk during a return visit to the city of Palmyra, April 9.

A Syrian man inspects his home upon his return to the modern town of Palmyra, adjacent to the ancient Syrian city, on April 9.

A Syrian man carries a carpet as he walks through a devastated part of the town of Palmyra as families load their belongings onto a bus.

Women react to damage as they visit the city of Palmyra, Syria, April 9.

A general view shows Syrian families returning to the town of Palmyra.

A Syrian girl waits for her family to load their belongings onto a bus.

Photographers take pictures of the damaged Palmyra citadel in the central Homs province, Syria, April 14. Russian combat engineers are in Syria on a mission to clear mines in Palmyra.

A Syrian boy waits his for family to load their belongings onto a bus.

A woman reacts after seeing her damaged home during her visit to the city of Palmyra, Syria, April 9.

Women carry belongings they collected from their damaged houses as they get into into a bus after their visit to the city of Palmyra, Syria on April 9.

A Syrian Army soldier poses inside his damaged house during his visit to the city of Palmyra, Syria April 9.

Syrians inspect their homes upon their return to the modern town of Palmyra, adjacent to the ancient Syrian city, on April 9.

Syrians look through a window after they loaded their belongings onto a bus.