Syrian government troops moved closer on Thursday to encircling rebels in the country's second city Aleppo, threatening a total siege after cutting their main supply line, AFP reports.
Backed by a wave of Russian air strikes, regime forces have made key advances against rebel positions on the road to Aleppo and the offensive has been blamed for causing the suspension of peace talks this week in Geneva.
The advance - which has seen the most significant government victories since staunch ally Russia launched air strikes last year - brings government forces closer than ever to encircling rebels who have held the east of Aleppo city since mid-2012.