Anti-government rebels in northern Syria have launched a sudden offensive in an effort to capitalize on Israel’s efforts to weaken Iran’s regional proxies.

Islamist militants based in north-western Syria entered Syria’s second city of Aleppo in a shock assault, eight years after forces loyal to Damascus seized control of the city. Fighters from the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) began a major new offensive earlier this week from their base in the Idlib countryside,

Syrian rebel fighters launched their first major offensive in four years against government positions near Aleppo, claiming to have advanced several miles and captured a string of villages.

As arms have been temporarily laid down in south Lebanon, the Turkish-supported Syrian Salvation Government forces attacked the historic city held by al-Assad's army, reawakening the war in the Middle Eastern country.

Armed Syrian opposition groups shelled Aleppo Friday, in a major offensive against government troops that has sparked some of the deadliest fighting in years.