Syrian armed groups opposing the government forces and the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad have launched a large-scale offensive in Aleppo province. The rebels have seized control of several settlements in the country's northwest,

Jihadist fighters cut the Damascus to Aleppo highway on Thursday during an offensive that a monitor says killed around 200, including civilians hit by Russian air force strikes.

The surprise assault occurred around Aleppo, a government-held city and one of the focal points of fighting in Syria’s civil war.