Syrian government loses control of second-largest city Aleppo for first time in 13 years of civil war

Government forces lost control of Aleppo to the Islamist-dominated rebel alliance for the first time since the conflict began in 2011. The lightning assault was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and coincided with a ceasefire in Lebanon. Kurdish forces expanded their control, exacerbating tensions with the rebels.