Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed on Sunday to "use force to eliminate terrorism". "We will continue to defend the stability and territorial integrity of our country," he told the Acting President of the Republic of Abkhazia,

"We firmly support the Syrian government and army." It comes the day after Russia - a key ally of Assad's - launched air strikes on parts of Syria's second largest city It comes after a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry confirmed that Araqchi will travel to Damascus tomorrow.

Thousands of Syrian insurgents have taken over most of Aleppo, establishing positions in the country’s largest city and controlling its airport before expanding their shock offensive to a nearby province.

Syrian and Russian jets are stepping up strikes on opposition forces in northern Syria in retaliation for the sudden offensive that has cost the regime control of the country’s second largest city, Aleppo.

Syrian armed opposition forces have entered Aleppo just three days into their surprise offensive, marking the first time they have set foot in the country’s second largest city since government forces recaptured the city in 2016.

Sham, a powerful Syrian rebel faction, has launched offensive in Aleppo by taking military bases and villages from Assad's forces. This marks a significant escalation of the civil war in Syria, with HTS posing a major threat to Assad's regime.