The Syrian military rushed in reinforcements on Sunday to stop insurgents advancing further into the northern Hama countryside after they seized Aleppo and surrounding strategic locations in an adjacent province in a surprise offensive.

The rebels, who have taken back Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, from government forces in eight years, are advancing to the central part of the

Over a few days, rebel fighters in northern Syria have launched incursions into several major cities with little resistance from government troops.

The advance on Aleppo followed a shock offensive launched on Wednesday, as fighters swept through villages and towns.

Overnight, Russian "warplanes launched raids on areas of Aleppo city for the first time since 2016", says Britain-based SOHR

The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel group in Syria has taken control of much of Aleppo city after local forces withdrew to organize a counteroffensive to retake Aleppo.

Syria state media say government troops are battling insurgents inside the country’s largest city Aleppo for the first time since 2016