A surprise offensive by rebel forces opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime has led to a new round of fighting in a largely static civil war.

The sudden assault by Syrian rebels has rapidly redrawn the civil war’s front lines and threatened once again the authority of President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian opposition fighters have made a significant advance in Aleppo, capturing most of the city and controlling wide areas across Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo provinces. The offensive, aimed at halting attacks by government and Iran-backed forces,

Syrian opposition fighters have made their most significant advance in years against government forces, shaking up a civil war that had long been at a stalemate. The new rebel offensive began on Wednesday in Aleppo Province in northwestern Syria.