SYRIA ON A KNIFE EDGE

Assad's troops hit back after Aleppo's shock fall

- CHRIS HUGHES

HUNDREDS of Iraqi militia have rushed to back a Syrian regime counter-offensive against the insurgents who overran Aleppo.

Jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham stormed Syria's largest city in a major blow to beleaguered despot leader Bashar al-Assad.

The attack has prompted a deadly backlash of airstrikes from Syrian and allied Russian fighter jets as the rebels are also threatening Idlib.

Dozens of civilians are feared to have died in the counter-attack.

It is one of the biggest crises to face Assad since the 2011 Arab Spring revolution that sparked an uprising and spawned Syrian Islamist groups.