They intervened on his side against rebel groups that ranged from the jihadist extremists of Islamic State to militias supported by the US and the rich Gulf monarchies. Now Iran is reeling from severe blows inflicted by Israel,

Syria’s antigovernment forces claimed a stunning advance into Aleppo, in a setback for the government in Damascus and its allies Russia and Iran.

Government forces lost control of Syria's second city Aleppo on Sunday for the first time since the country's civil conflict began, a war monitor said, after a lightning offensive dealt a severe blow to President Bashar al-Assad.