What to know about sudden rebel gains in Syria's 13-year war and why it matters

WASHINGTON (AP) — The 13-year civil war in Syria has roared back into prominence with a surprise rebel offensive that captured Aleppo, one of Syria's largest cities and an ancient hub of Middle East culture and commerce. The push is the rebels' strongest in years in a war whose destabilizing...

Iraqi militias deploy in Syria to back government's counteroffensive against insurgents

BEIRUT (AP) — Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have deployed in Syria to back the government's counteroffensive against a surprise advance by insurgents who seized the largest city of Aleppo, a militia official and a war monitor said Monday. Insurgents led by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir...

Syria launches counterattacks in an attempt to halt insurgency, as Iran's top diplomat meets Assad

BEIRUT (AP) — The Syrian military rushed reinforcements to the northwest and launched airstrikes Sunday in an attempt to push back insurgents who seized the country’s largest city of Aleppo, as Iran pledged to help the government counter the surprise offensive. Iran has been a...

After entering Aleppo, Syrian insurgents advance to a nearby province. Assad says he'll defeat them

BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Syrian insurgents took over most of Aleppo on Saturday, establishing positions in the country's largest city and controlling its airport before expanding their shock offensive to a nearby province. They faced little to no resistance from government troops, according to...

In a shock offensive, insurgents breach Syria's largest city for the first time since 2016

BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents breached Syria’s largest city Friday and clashed with government forces for the first time since 2016, according to a war monitor and fighters, in a surprise attack that sent residents fleeing and added fresh uncertainty to a region reeling from multiple wars. ...

Syrian insurgents have breached Syria's city of Aleppo after blowing up 2 car bombs, activists and fighters say

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian insurgents have breached Syria's city of Aleppo after blowing up 2 car bombs, activists and fighters say.

Syrian insurgents launch large-scale attack on government forces in the country's northwest

Syrian armed groups launched a large-scale attack on areas controlled by government forces and seized territory in northwestern Syria, opposition groups said Thursday. The government and its allies responded with airstrikes and shelling to ward off the insurgent advances, activists said. ...