Syrian government forces and rebels are engaged in battle outside the city of Hama. The government had regained control of Syria's main cities with the help of Russia, Iran, and Iran-backed militias, but large parts of the country remained out of its control. The rebels' last stronghold was in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, which border Turkey. Turkey and Russia brokered a ceasefire in 2020, but sporadic clashes and violence continued. The rebels now have de facto control over territory containing an estimated 7 million people.