Syria: Syrian army and allies launched a major attack against rebels south of Aleppo
The Syrian army and its allies launched a major attack on insurgents south of Aleppo, described as the fiercest government assault in the area since an agreement to ease the fighting came into effect in February.
Fighting south of Aleppo in recent days has put further strain on the already widely violated ceasefire deal brokered by the United States and Russia with the aim of launching a diplomatic process towards ending the five-year-long war.
The indirect talks organised by the United Nations are struggling with no sign of compromise over the main issue dividing the sides: the future of President Bashar Al Assad. A second round of talks is due to begin on Monday in Geneva.
Rebels described intense air strikes in the southern Aleppo area where the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front shot down a Syrian warplane on Tuesday and captured its pilot.
Nusra Front, which along with IS is not part of the ceasefire, last week attacked and captured a town in the area, killing dozens of Syrian soldiers and their allies.