Since Aleppo, Year of Victories for Syria Regime
Since Syrian government forces recaptured the whole of second city Aleppo a year ago, they have retaken much of the country with the help of allies Russia and Iran.
For the rebels, the loss of Aleppo on December 22, 2016 signaled the beginning of the end.
Rebels now control only 12 percent of Syria's territory, notably the northwestern province of Idlib where jihadists and Islamist rebels dominate.
After a string of defeats, the Islamic State group holds just five percent, including a rural pocket in the east and two neighborhoods on the outskirts of Damascus.
Here is a recap of the gains by President Bashar al-Assad's forces over the past year:
- Wadi Barada -
On January 29, 2017, the army recaptures Wadi Barada, the source of Damascus's mains water supply, after rebels agree to withdraw in exchange for an end to a devastating siege that lasted more than a month.
- Palmyra won back -
On March 2, the Russian Defense Minister and the Syrian army announce they have recaptured the ancient desert city of Palmyra from IS.
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.
- Damascus -
In May, regime forces take control of three major Damascus districts: Barzeh, Qabun, and Tishrin. Several thousand civilians and fighters leave the capital and head northwest to rebel-held Idlib.
Like Wadi Barada and other towns and villages around Damascus, the three districts return to government control under a so-called "reconciliation" deal.
Rebels and civilians are granted safe passage to opposition-held territory elsewhere in exchange for an end to siege and bombardment by the army.
Inside Damascus, rebels still hold part of the eastern neighborhood of Jobar. It lies near Eastern Ghouta, a besieged rebel-held district east of the capital.
- Homs -
On May 21, the regime regains full control of third city Homs with the Russian-supervised evacuation of Waer, its last rebel-held neighborhood.
On August 5, government forces recapture Al-Sukhna, the last IS stronghold in Homs province.
- IS leaves Aleppo province -
On June 4, government forces troops seize the strategic town of Maskana from IS as part of a months-long operation to drive the jihadists out of Aleppo province.
On June 30, they retake the last IS-held pocket in the province.
- Oil-rich Deir Ezzor -
In June, troops, backed by Iranian, Lebanese and Iraqi fighters, break into the strategic eastern province of Deir Ezzor.
On October 14, they retake the town of Mayadeen from IS.
On November 2, they take full control of Deir Ezzor itself, the last major city where the jihadists had a presence.
On November 19, the army announces it has recaptured Albu Kamal on the Iraqi border, the last town in Syria still held by IS.
Source: Agence France Presse
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