Syria's civil war has taken a dramatic turn, with dictator Bashar Assad once again leaning on Russian support after a shock offensive by Islamist rebels in Aleppo.

Cities in Syria have been hit by Russian air strikes throughout the weekend, as anti-government rebels have advanced in Aleppo. Hundreds of people have been killed in fighting since Wednesday, when the current offensive began. Here are some key takeaways from our reporting over the past few hours:

Syrian and Russian jets are stepping up strikes on opposition forces in northern Syria in retaliation for the sudden offensive that has cost the regime control of the country’s second largest city, Aleppo.