Conflict monitors say insurgents are engaged in a major offensive on government-held areas in the north west of Syria.

The push comes as reports suggest Syrian government forces and Kurdish militia are making gains in the east of the country.

Sources say the insurgents’ aim is to advance towards the western coastal stronghold of President Bashar al-Assad.

Fighters from the self-titled Islamic State group, meanwhile, have been driven out of Hasaka in the east.

The city is the capital of a strategically-important province bordering Iraq.

Syrian forces, #Kurds push #ISIS out of Hasaka city – monitor
http://t.co/KW22yqP89Q pic.twitter.com/45DIcmzseU— Alwasat (@alwasatengnews) 28 Juillet 2015

Counting the humanitarian cost

In New York, the talking continues.

Ahead of a visit to Damascus next month, the UN’s head of Humanitarian Operations wants aid workers to be given more access to those in need.

We must show #Syria’s people the world hasn’t forgotten them. I urge th