The Syrian government currently controls the capital of Damascus and much of the county’s south east, as well as its Mediterranean coastline.

Syria’s north west is held by a coalition of factions led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and another group led by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA).

HTS and SNA-led groups burst out of the opposition stronghold of Idlib on Nov 27, capturing most of the city of Aleppo by Nov 28.

They are rapidly advancing south towards Homs and Damascus, and SNA-linked groups have also attacked Kurdish-held territory in the northern Aleppo region.