In Syria, rebel fighters have launched a major assault against government-held parts of Aleppo city. However, the Syrian army -- backed by allied militia and air strikes from Russian jets -- said they had pushed back the insurgency.

Government forces made significant progress last week, taking control of the Bani Zeid district, and areas close to the Castello road that link Aleppo and Turkey. But the Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday that one of its helicopters had been shot down in Idlib Province in Syria after delivering humanitarian aid to Aleppo with five people on board.