Aleppo no longer under Assad govt's control for first time since Syrian civil war- Top updates

The Aleppo city of Syria is no longer under the control of President Bashar al-Assad's government, for the first time since the conflict began in the country, the news agency AFP reported on Sunday (Dec 1), citing a war monitor.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied rebel factions "control Aleppo city, except the neighbourhoods controlled by the Kurdish forces."

"For the first time since the conflict started in 2012, Aleppo city is out of control of Syrian regime forces," Rahman added.

Also read | Syria rebels seize Aleppo, other strategic towns; Iran says its consulate attacked

In a shock offensive, rebel factions breached Aleppo on Friday and clashed with government forces for the first time since 2016. The advance on Aleppo followed a shock offensive by insurgents on Wednesday.

The surprise attack sent residents fleeing and added fresh uncertainty to a region reeling under multiple wars.

Here's a look at the latest updates:

> Aleppo is no longer under the Assad government's control for the first time since the Syrian civil war began in 2012.

> Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that he would leave Tehran for Damascus to deliver a message of support for Syria's government and armed forces.

> "I am going to Damascus to convey the message of the Islamic Republic to the Syrian government," Foreign Minister Araghchi said, emphasising Tehran will "firmly support the Syrian government and army."

> A day earlier, Iran's foreign ministry said its consulate in Aleppo had come under attack, but staff members were safe.

> Also on Saturday, rebel factions seized Aleppo's airport and dozens of nearby towns after overrunning most of the city.

> The Syrian Army confirmed that the rebels had entered "large parts" of Aleppo of around two million people and said "dozens of men from our armed forces were killed."

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> Since 2020, the rebel enclave in Syria's northwestern Idlib region has been subject to a Turkish- and Russian-brokered truce that has largely been held despite repeated violations.

> But the insurgents' launch of a surprise offensive on Wednesday against Aleppo shattered the truce.

> The Syrian government regained control of a large part of the country in 2015 with the support of its Russian and Iranian allies, and in 2016 the entire of Aleppo.

> On Saturday, Russia launched its first air strikes on Aleppo since 2016, targeting the rebels.

> The state-run Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of the Enemy Parties in Syria said missile and bomb strikes against the rebels had targeted "militant concentrations, command posts, depots, and artillery positions" in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. 

(With inputs from agencies)