They intervened on his side against rebel groups that ranged from the jihadist extremists of Islamic State to militias supported by the US and the rich Gulf monarchies. Now Iran is reeling from severe blows inflicted by Israel,

Assad will use 'full brutality' to crush Syrian rebels in Aleppo, analyst says::H.A. Hellyer/Senior associate fellow/Royal United Services Institute''I think he goes for full brutality. I think he will try to crush the rebel advance in whatever way that he can.

Syria carried out airstrikes targeting the rebel forces that seized the country's second largest city of Aleppo in a surprise advance last week that caught the government off guard.