Syrian army launches counter-offensive after rebels seize Aleppo and push south

A coalition of forces opposed to Bashar al-Assad's regime, led by Islamist rebels, has taken control of most of the city of Aleppo. This marks a major turning point in the conflict, as the Syrian army had previously regained control of the city in 2016 with the help of Russian air support. In response to the rebel takeover, Russia, a key ally of the Assad regime, has launched air strikes on the rebels, marking its first air strikes in the region since 2016. The Syrian army has also been involved in the fighting, with dozens of its soldiers killed in the rebel assault.