In just a few days, a patchwork of rebel forces has seized control of a broad stretch of land in the west and northwest of Syria. But it’s unclear just how much support Syria’s weakened allies can provide.

“Syria is forging ahead in combatting terrorism with force and resoluteness on the entirety of its territories,” Assad said in a statement. The Syrian army bombed rebel positions in Aleppo and has dispatched reinforcements to the area north of the city of Hama to try to stop the advance.