The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia was continuing to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after his forces lost territory to Islamist insurgents and other rebel groups and would see what help was needed to stabilise the situation.

The Syrian authorities rely on the help of allies to try to repel the offensive of anti-government forces that have launched a large-scale campaign in the Aleppo province. Anti-Assad forces have already taken control of dozens of villages and towns,

The surprise attack jolted the frontlines of the Syrian civil war that have largely been frozen since 2020. The army said it was preparing a counteroffensive.

The Syrian military rushed in reinforcements Sunday (December 1) in an attempt to push back insurgents from advancing farther after seizing Aleppo and surrounding strategic locations in an adjacent province in a surprise offensive.