Assad, has condemned the unexpected advance of anti-government Islamist rebels on the city of Aleppo as an attack on Syria's sovereignty. "Of course this is an encroachment on Syria's sovereignty in this region,

The Syrian Civil War reignited after four years of docility when a rebel coalition launched a surprise offensive against Syrian government positions.

Syrian opposition forces claim to have entered Aleppo city from the western side, according to a statement released on Friday by the newly formed rebel coalition, the Military Operations Command.