Syria Coup: Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led rebels seized control of large parts of Aleppo, one of Syria’s largest cities, after a surprise offensive this week. The rebels also claimed control of the city’s international airport. According to reports, the Syrian rebels later advanced south, towards the central city of Hama.

The Syrian armed opposition announced an effort to expand safe areas and allow displaced civilians in the Idlib province to return to their homes in recently captured territories.

Russian and Syrian government air strikes pounded central Aleppo on Saturday as rebels claimed control of the city’s international airport and advanced towards Hama.

It was the first time air strikes had targeted Aleppo since 2016, when the Syrian opposition was driven out of the city.

The forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which had previously held Aleppo, with the support of allies in Iran, Russia and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, have withdrawn as rebels make further inroads into Aleppo. 

This is the first time air strikes had targeted Aleppo since 2016, when the Syrian opposition was driven out of the city.