Aleppo in Syria has been taken by Islamists

Islamist rebels toppled a statue of Bassel al-Assad, brother of the current Syrian president, in the city of Aleppo. This surprise takeover marks a major advance against Bashar al-Assad's regime. Videos show insurgents tying a rope to the monument to bring it down, to applause and gunfire in the air. The city, controlled by the regime since 2016, has given way to groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The Syrian government is promising a counter-attack to regain this strategic terrain.