Retake Eastern Syria

Syrian forces pursued a relentless air and ground offensive against Eastern Ghouta on Thursday, moving closer to retaking the rebel enclave but also depriving desperate civilians of vital aid.

Syrian rebels have lost all of the northern neighbourhoods of their stronghold in eastern Aleppo, a monitor said Monday, as the army pushed an offensive to retake the battered city.

Government forces retook six rebel-held districts of eastern Aleppo over the weekend, forcing nearly 10,000 civilians to flee as they pressed their offensive on Sunday to retake Syria's second city.

Syrian soldiers recaptured the old citadel of Palmyra overlooking the city's ancient ruins on Friday, state media and a monitoring group said, in an offensive which could open up much of eastern Syria to government forces.

A Western-backed opposition force of around 12,000 to 15,000 will be needed to retake areas of eastern Syria controlled by Islamic State militants, the top USmilitary officer said on Friday, as the Pentagon outlined the first steps in a US-led training program that could run several years.

Syrian forces pursued a relentless air and ground offensive against Eastern Ghouta on Thursday, moving closer to retaking the rebel enclave but also depriving desperate civilians of vital aid.

Syrian rebels have lost all of the northern neighbourhoods of their stronghold in eastern Aleppo, a monitor said Monday, as the army pushed an offensive to retake the battered city.

Government forces retook six rebel-held districts of eastern Aleppo over the weekend, forcing nearly 10,000 civilians to flee as they pressed their offensive on Sunday to retake Syria's second city.

Syrian soldiers recaptured the old citadel of Palmyra overlooking the city's ancient ruins on Friday, state media and a monitoring group said, in an offensive which could open up much of eastern Syria to government forces.

A Western-backed opposition force of around 12,000 to 15,000 will be needed to retake areas of eastern Syria controlled by Islamic State militants, the top USmilitary officer said on Friday, as the Pentagon outlined the first steps in a US-led training program that could run several years.