Syrian rebels advance after capturing Aleppo, Russian airstrikes continue

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said rebels in Syria had advanced further after taking Aleppo, and that Russia had continued to bombard them on Sunday.

At least 12 people were killed in an airstrike on a hospital in Aleppo.

The SOHR also said eight more civilians were killed in an attack in the northwest of Idlib.

In addition to the rural areas of Idlib, warplanes also hit areas in Hama that rebels had taken control of.

The AFP news agency, citing observers, said it was the first time the Syrian government had lost control of Aleppo since the start of the country's civil war.

The surprise new offensive by the rebels began on Wednesday, the largest in recent years.

The rebels are led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and have links to several factions including the Turkish-backed HTS.

SOHR has reported more than 300 deaths so far, including 20 civilians.

This is the first time since 2016 that Russian warplanes have struck Aleppo, Syria's second largest city.

The Russian air force played a key role in keeping President Bashar al-Assad in power when the Syrian civil war reached its peak.

SOHR said the Russian airstrikes hit a refugee camp in Idlib on Sunday.

HTS now controls the northwestern city.

Aleppo University Hospital was also hit. Other parts of the city have also been targeted.

Opposition fighters have taken control of all the cities there. Only a few areas remain under the control of Kurdish forces.

Government forces have withdrawn from the city to prepare for a counterattack.

Meanwhile, rebels are now advancing from Aleppo towards Hama, the country's fourth largest city.