Evacuations from rebel-held areas are due to begin ‘within hours’, according to reports

‘You can’t imagine what it’s like living in Aleppo right now. It feels like we are living in hell’

Opposition forces fire hundreds of rockets and artillery shells in opening salvo of battle

Damascus and Moscow are concerned about the foreign policy of next US president

Incursion prevents Kurds from uniting and pushes jihadists from border areas

Loss of manufacturing hub would constitute a significant reversal for government forces

Opposition fighters face ‘high price’ for civilian deaths as violence in city escalates

Leading Irish imam raises concerns with gardaí ahead of Dublin Islamic Conference

Formulation of Syrian peace plan frustrated by task of defining terrorist factions

President’s comments undermine fragile Munich ceasefire agreement

Wresting control of city from various factions key to Assad’s bid for legitimacy

Analysis: Blame for derailed negotiations is being passed between the powers involved

Delivery of food packages follows international outcry over deaths from malnutrition

Rebel factions holed up in Zabadani promised safe passage to Beirut airport

Death of head of Jaysh al-Islam comes as blow to rebel control of Damascus suburb

Attendees of conference in Riyadh focus on ousting Syrian president Bashar al-Assad

Move to form united front ahead of negotiations with Syrian government scheduled for next month

Islamic State is a terrorist group that will defend its areas against all comers

Russian presence in Syrian airspace makes creation of safe zone more difficult

Britain claims only one in 20 Russian air strikes in Syria aimed at Islamic State forces