Syrian government closes airport and roads after rebel offensive – World

The Syrian rebels have reached Aleppo, the authorities have decided to defend the country.

Syrian authorities have closed Aleppo's airport and all roads leading to the city after rebels opposed to the country's President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the center of Aleppo.

This was reported by the Reuters agency with reference to three military sources.

This week, opposition fighters led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a surprise operation in government-held towns and re-entered Aleppo, nearly a decade after being driven out by Assad and his allies.

According to the agency, Russia has promised to provide additional military aid to Assad to fight the rebels, and that new equipment will arrive within 72 hours.

Situation: Syrian army ordered to withdraw from rebel-held areas of Aleppo….