It had taken seven weeks of a brutal, bare-knuckled battle that killed and wounded thousands of people. In addition, the Assad government and its allies were blamed by many observers and activists for a suspected chemical attack April 7 that killed more than 40 people. But the opposition's top bastion near the capital was no more, and officials in Syria and its ally Russia denied responsibility for any chemical attack.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 16, 2018 00:27 UTC