Syrian civil war reignites as Islamist militants make significant territorial gains, challenging Assad regime's control.

Russia, which deployed its air force to Syria in 2015 to help Assad, is conducting airstrikes in support of the army. It marks the most serious escalation of the conflict in years, adding to a toll which stands at hundreds of thousands dead since 2011,

Opposition forces seeking to overthrow Syria's President Bashar al-Assad launched their biggest offensive in years last week, retaking the northern city of Aleppo and driving government forces out of the region.

Fighting has engulfed Syria – 13 years after the start of the Civil War – as a new Jihadist-led coalition is attempting to overthrow president Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The balance of power appears to be shifting in Aleppo,