Syrian rebels launched a surprise attack on Saturday and quickly advanced through several provinces in the north and northwest of Syria, including the city of Aleppo, the country’s second largest city.

The advance on Aleppo followed a shock offensive launched on Wednesday, as fighters swept through villages and towns.

The Syrian military has rushed in reinforcements to push back insurgents from advancing farther into the northern Hama countryside after they seized Aleppo in a surprise offensive.

Syrian insurgents have breached Syria's city of Aleppo after blowing up 2 car bombs, activists and fighters say

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.

The Syrian military rushed in reinforcements and struck Idlib city Sunday in an attempt to push back insurgents from advancing farther after seizing Aleppo and surrounding strategic locations in an adjacent province in a surprise offensive.

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

Syria and Russia are stepping up their retaliatory strikes on forces in northern Syria after they lost control of the country’s second-largest city.

Syrian rebels drove military vehicles around Aleppo province as clashes with Syrian government forces escalated. Fighting in northwestern Syria over the past three days has claimed the lives of 27 civilians,