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Syrian and Russian jets attack rebels in Aleppo
After the rebels' surprise advance into Aleppo, Syrian and Russian jets have carried out attacks on the opposition. Control of the city poses a serious challenge to Assad.
Syrian and Russian jets attack rebels in Aleppo
The Syrian and Russian air forces have carried out strikes on opposition forces in northern Syria in an attempt to target the sudden offensive to respond, which has wrested the government's control of the country's second largest city, Aleppo.
Rebels capture important military base
The offensive led to the rebel alliance's capture of a major military base east of Aleppo as well as large areas in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. These successes met with little resistance from regime forces.
Challenge for President Assad
The rebels' rapid gains represent the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in the last eight years, while Russian air support had previously rolled back rebel gains in the civil war.
Newly formed rebel coalition
The newly formed rebel coalition, calling itself a military operations command, has seized key locations in Aleppo, including the airport, where fighters in camouflage clothing can be seen inside the main terminal in video verified by CNN.
Consolidate military gains
The rebels consolidated their gains by capturing key military sites in the east of Aleppo city on Sunday. However, some parts of the city remained in the hands of Kurdish forces.
Difficulties for the government
The opposition's control of Aleppo means that the counteroffensive promised by the Syrian Defense Ministry will be extremely difficult to carry out.
Air strikes on opposition
Government aircraft - supported by Russian planes based in Syria - have carried out bombing raids on opposition positions in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.
Victims of the air raids
The White Helmets, a Syrian volunteer rescue service, reported that airstrikes on the city of Idlib on Sunday killed at least four people. This province now appears to be completely in rebel hands.
Assad's statement
In his first comments since the lightning takeover, Assad said Syria would continue to "defend its stability and territorial integrity in the face of all terrorists and their supporters." The comments came during phone calls with regional leaders on Saturday.
Syria ready to resist
Assad stressed that Syria "with the help of its allies and friends is able to defeat and eliminate them, no matter how intense their terrorist attacks are."