Syrian Arab Republic

Rebels entered the city of Hama, a key strategic city, dealing a new blow to Syrian President Bassar al-Assad and allies Iran and Russia.

Syria’s civil war is back in the spotlight after Islamist rebels made the biggest breakthrough in years against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Islamist rebels have been advancing through large swathes of the country's north-west in the past week, threatening the rule of Syria's long-time president, Bashar Al-Assad.

Hundreds of Iran-backed fighters are marching into Syria as the Assad-regime scrambles to regain control of the country. 

The United Nations chief expresses concern over a recent escalation in Syria's civil war, which had remained dormant until a recent surprise rebel offensive in Aleppo.

The decapitation and capitulation of Hezbollah in Lebanon after an Israeli onslaught has rippled across the border to the protracted Syrian civil war, reigniting an even more complex and devastating conflict.

A lightning offensive has seen Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government lose control of the country's second-biggest city.

The Assad governmetn has vowed to crush a rebel offensive led by former Al Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

ABC global affairs editor John Lyons says President Bashar al-Assad is ‘very vulnerable’ because his backers are distracted.

A government counterinsurgency recaptures several towns that had been overrun in recent days by rebels, the army says, as Russian strikes kill at least 19 people.

Former al Qaeda partner Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is leading an offensive and its success has shocked observers of Syria.

Islamist rebels have seized control of Aleppo in an escalation of the long-running civil war in Syria. 

A shock four-day offensive in Syria's north-east has seen territory held by the Assad regime since 2016 retaken by militant groups aiming to overthrow the government.

The Syrian army says dozens of its soldiers have been killed in a major attack by rebels who swept into the city of Aleppo, forcing the army to redeploy in the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years.

Syrian insurgents have taken control of parts of Aleppo, while Russian air strikes have continued to pound rebel areas, killing at least 277 people.

Arrest warrants were issued for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, as well as a Hamas military leader, last week.

Israel and Hezbollah appear unwilling to compromise on how a proposed ceasefire deal between the two sides would be enforced, with the Israeli government saying it wants "the freedom to act" within Lebanon.

A senior Hamas official says its mediators would accept "any proposal submitted to it" that would lead to a ceasefire and Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

A special UN committee reports Israeli conduct in the besieged Palestinian territory is "intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury" to its inhabitants.

Israel's military says it is reviewing the strike, which it says was targeted at Hamas. The dawn strike is part of a renewed push by Israel to prevent Hamas from regrouping.