Opposition groups in north-west have launched biggest push in years against government forces

Syrian insurgents have cut a highway linking Damascus and Aleppo, a war monitor has said, after launching their biggest offensive in years against government forces in Syria’s north-west.

“Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions cut off the Damascus-Aleppo international M5 highway ... in addition to controlling the junction between the M4 and M5 highways,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.