Syria: advances by regime forces

BEIRUT - 1 July 2017: The Syrian regime has recaptured much of the territory it lost earlier in the country's six-year-old civil war, with help from allies Iran and Russia as well as Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.

Here is a recap of the gains by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad:

On April 30, 2013, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah says the powerful group's fighters are aiding troops in Syria to combat the anti-Assad rebellion.
His troops first begin seizing territory in Syria's Qusayr region close to the Lebanese border and Sayyida Zeinab near Damascus, site of a shrine which is revered by Shiites around the world.

Since then, Hezbollah has sent thousands of fighters to come to the aid of the Assad regime across the country, with involvement reported as far north as Aleppo province and south in Daraa.

On September 30, 2015, Russia launches air strikes in Syria, coming to the aid of the army, which is close to collapse after a series of setbacks since March 2015.
With the new air cover, Syrian troops begin scoring advances across the country.
On November 10, 2015, Russian-backed regime forces break a two-year jihadist siege on the key Kweyris air base in Aleppo province.

On January 25, 2016, loyalist forces capture the strategic southern town of Sheikh Miskeen, in Daraa province close to the Jordanian border.
Regime fighters -- backed by Russian air power, Hezbollah and Iranian officers -- continue to make steady progress in the provine in a bid to exert full control on Daraa city.

After a suffocating siege and a crushing offensive which used barrel bombs, rockets and shells, the Syrian army declares in December 2016 that it is in full control of second city Aleppo.
Thousands of rebels and civilians are evacuated from the northern city under a deal sponsored by Iran, Russia and Turkey.

On January 29, 2017, the army recaptures Wadi Barada, a flashpoint area that supplies water to Damascus, after rebel fighters agreed to withdraw in exchange for an end to a devastating siege.
The Syrian government has used such deals to regain control of more than half a dozen towns and villages around Damascus, securing its hold on the capital.

On March 2, 2017, the Russian Defence Minister and the Syrian army announce they have recaptured the ancient town of Palmyra in central Homs province from the Islamic State group.
The city had changed hands several times. First seized by IS in May 2015, it was retaken by the regime in March 2016 before falling back into jihadist hands in December.

On May 21, 2017, the regime regains total control of the central city of Homs with the evacuation of rebels from Waer, the last opposition-held neighbourhood.
They also take control of three major Damascus districts: Barzeh, Qabun, and Tishrin.

In March 2017, regime forces recapture the key village of Deir Hafer from IS. Backed by Russian forces, they seize another strategic town, Maskana, on June 4.
On June 30, Syrian government troops chase IS fighters out of a last sliver of Aleppo province, after four years of IS presence there.