Insurgents leave Assad red-faced as they take most of Aleppo in surprise attack

Syrian opposition fighters burn government Syrian flags for the cameras next to Aleppo’s old city (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

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 fighters and activists.