Assad's forces make advances, further securing Aleppo region Syrian troops are making significant advances against the last rebel held enclaves in the country's northwest, consolidating the government's hold over the key Aleppo provinceExclusive look inside US patrols in northeastern Syria The Associated PressDAMASCUS, Syria -- Syrian troops have made significant advances against the last rebel held enclaves in the country's northwest, state media said on Sunday, consolidating the government's hold over the key Aleppo province. State news agency SANA reported 30 villages and towns around the city in the western Aleppo countryside were captured on Sunday. The state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV said government troops were still besieging remnants of opposition fighters in a small part of rural western Aleppo. Also, parts of northern Aleppo region, which straddles the border with Turkey, is administered by Turkey and allied Syrian factions. Support from Russia and Iran has enabled Assad's forces to regain control of much of the territories they had lost to armed groups who worked to topple him.

Source: ABC News February 16, 2020 18:00 UTC