The capture of Aleppo by rebels, Syria’s second-largest city, has been a big change in the more than decade-long conflict, as the city had never before fallen out of government hands

Assad’s favor after a Russian blitzkrieg on Aleppo helped him regain control over the country’s second biggest city.

Russia has carried out air strikes on parts of the Syrian city of Aleppo after areas were seized by rebels opposed to the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. Recent days have seen the most significant offensive against the Syrian government in years and the withdrawal of its military from Aleppo,