Rebel forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad have launched their biggest offensive in years this week, controlling a majority of Syria's second city of Aleppo according to a monitor.

A monitor of Syria's war said on Saturday that jihadist rebels now control a majority of Aleppo city, reporting Russian air strikes on parts of Syria's second city for the first time since 2016.The rebels have pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed Syrian government since Wednesday,

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.

Rebel forces launched the largest offensive against the Syrian government in years on Wednesday. By Saturday, they had taken control of “large parts” of the country’s second-biggest city, Aleppo. The surprise offensive prompted the first Russian strikes on Aleppo since 2016,

The insurgent offensive, shocking for its speed, has posed the most serious challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years.

Video posted by pro-opposition media in Syria shows militants in Aleppo’s western suburbs removing the Syrian national flag from a monument.

Thousands of Syrian insurgents have fanned out inside Syria’s largest city Aleppo a day after storming it with little resistance from government troops

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

A rebel commander said a fall in Iran-backed manpower created an opening this week's assault. Iran's ally Hezbollah has suffered big losses to Israel.