The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia was continuing to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after his forces lost territory to Islamist insurgents and other rebel groups and would see what help was needed to stabilise the situation.

Russia continues to support Syria's Bashar Assad after anti-regime groups' offensive last week claimed swathes of territory from

The Syrian army said on Saturday dozens of its soldiers had been killed in a major attack led by Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels who swept into the city of Aleppo, forcing the army to redeploy in the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years.

A rebel commander said a fall in Iran-backed manpower created an opening this week's assault. Iran's ally Hezbollah has suffered big losses to Israel.

"We firmly support the Syrian government and army." It comes the day after Russia - a key ally of Assad's - launched air strikes on parts of Syria's second largest city It comes after a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry confirmed that Araqchi will travel to Damascus tomorrow.