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Young photographer killed in Syria conflict

Syrian activist and photographer Molhem Barakat in Nov. 2013.
Syrian activist and photographer Molhem Barakat in Nov. 2013.Reuters
By PhotoBlog
A Free Syrian army fighter and others look at damage caused by what activists said was an airstrike with explosive barrels by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in Al-Shaar area in Aleppo on Dec. 17, 2013.
A Free Syrian army fighter and others look at damage caused by what activists said was an airstrike with explosive barrels by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in Al-Shaar area in Aleppo on Dec. 17, 2013.Molhem Barakat / Reuters
A Free Syrian Army fighter points his weapon as he tries to locate forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the Ramouseh area of Aleppo, on Sept. 4, 2013.
A Free Syrian Army fighter points his weapon as he tries to locate forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the Ramouseh area of Aleppo, on Sept. 4, 2013.Molhem Barakat / Reuters
Mohammad, a 13 year-old fighter from the Free Syrian Army, aims his weapon as he runs from snipers loyal to the Syrian regime in Aleppo's Bustan al-Basha district on Oct. 29, 2013. Mohammad joined the Free Syrian Army after his father died during clashes with the Syrian regime. The gun he is using was his father's.
Mohammad, a 13 year-old fighter from the Free Syrian Army, aims his weapon as he runs from snipers loyal to the Syrian regime in Aleppo's Bustan al-Basha district on Oct. 29, 2013. Mohammad joined the Free Syrian Army after his father died during clashes with the Syrian regime. The gun he is using was his father's.Molhem Barakat / Reuters
The blood-stained camera of Barakat on Dec. 20, 2013.
The blood-stained camera of Barakat on Dec. 20, 2013.Aleppo Media Centre via AFP - Getty Images
Syrian activist and photographer Molhem Barakat in Nov. 2013.
Syrian activist and photographer Molhem Barakat in Nov. 2013.Reuters

A Syrian photographer who took pictures for Reuters on a freelance basis has been killed while covering fighting in Aleppo, activists said.

Molhem Barakat died on Friday as he took photographs of a battle over a hospital between rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Rebels had accused government forces of turning the Kindi Hospital into a barracks.

As well as covering the conflict, Barakat took pictures showing the life of ordinary Syrians in the divided city, which used to be Syria's commercial hub.

The civil war in Syria has claimed the lives of well over 100,000 people since 2011 and driven millions into neighboring countries.

Barakat had sent Reuters dozens of pictures since May this year. Many of those pictures appeared in publications around the world, including on the NBC News PhotoBlog.

-- Reuters

A Free Syrian Army fighter aims his weapon as he takes up a position in Aleppo's Sheikh Saeed neighborhood on Dec. 4, 2013.
A Free Syrian Army fighter aims his weapon as he takes up a position in Aleppo's Sheikh Saeed neighborhood on Dec. 4, 2013.Molhem Barakat / Reuters
A fighter from the Tawhid Brigade, which operates under the Free Syrian Army, fires an anti-tank missile in Aleppo, on Nov. 14, 2013.
A fighter from the Tawhid Brigade, which operates under the Free Syrian Army, fires an anti-tank missile in Aleppo, on Nov. 14, 2013.Molhem Barakat / Reuters
Free Syrian Army fighters carry a fellow fighter who was wounded during clashes with forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, near Base 80 close to Aleppo International Airport, on Nov. 8, 2013.
Free Syrian Army fighters carry a fellow fighter who was wounded during clashes with forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, near Base 80 close to Aleppo International Airport, on Nov. 8, 2013.Molhem Barakat / Reuters
A fighter from the Tawhid Brigade, which operates under the Free Syrian Army, prepares homemade rockets to be thrown towards the 80th Brigade base in Aleppo, currently controlled by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, on Nov. 11, 2013.
A fighter from the Tawhid Brigade, which operates under the Free Syrian Army, prepares homemade rockets to be thrown towards the 80th Brigade base in Aleppo, currently controlled by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, on Nov. 11, 2013.Molhem Barakat / Reuters
A member of the Liwaa al-Sultan Mrad brigade, operating under the Free Syrian Army, holds his weapon as he sits on a chair along a street in Aleppo's Bustan al-Basha district, on Dec. 19, 2013.
A member of the Liwaa al-Sultan Mrad brigade, operating under the Free Syrian Army, holds his weapon as he sits on a chair along a street in Aleppo's Bustan al-Basha district, on Dec. 19, 2013.Molhem Barakat / Reuters
Hasan (right), an 11-year-old fighter in the Free Syrian Army, distributes tea to his fellow fighters at Aleppo's Karm al-Jabal district, on Dec. 7, 2013.
Hasan (right), an 11-year-old fighter in the Free Syrian Army, distributes tea to his fellow fighters at Aleppo's Karm al-Jabal district, on Dec. 7, 2013.Molhem Barakat / Reuters
Free Syrian Army fighters warm up by a fire in Old Aleppo, on Dec. 15, 2013.
Free Syrian Army fighters warm up by a fire in Old Aleppo, on Dec. 15, 2013.Molhem Barakat / Reuters

See more of Molhem Barakat's work:

In father's absence, Syrian boy takes up arms

Slideshow: Syria uprising

Slideshow: Car parts, scrap metal: DIY weapons in Syria

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