Syrian militants seize control of Aleppo

Fighters from the militant Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seized much of Aleppo in a sudden rout of Syrian army forces. Footage shows the Islamist rebels, who once were exiled to a mountainous pocket of the Syrian countryside, roaming the streets of central Aleppo, taking pictures below its ancient citadel and tearing down symbols of President Bashar al-Assad’s rule. The surprise offensive dramatically shifted the balance of power in Aleppo, the country’s second largest city, and marks the most serious challenge to Assad’s control in years

Syrian militants reach central Aleppo as government forces appear to retreat