Syria launches counter-attacks in bid to halt insurgents’ surprise advance

(Omar Albam/AP)

The Syrian military rushed in reinforcements and struck Idlib city on Sunday in an attempt to stop insurgents from advancing further after they seized Aleppo and surrounding strategic locations in an adjacent province in a surprise offensive.

The insurgents, led by Salafi jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, took over most of Aleppo on Saturday and claimed to have entered the city of Hama. There was no independent confirmation of their claim.