Russia changed the status of the situation in Syria from “complicated” to “emergency or armed conflict”. The change means Russia officially recognizes that Syria has plunged into a civil war.

The Syrian government showed unwavering determination as it sped up an operation in the past week to repel opposition forces from Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city. The conflict is growing increasingly fierce as support for the opposition flows in from foreign parties. The Syrian government on Monday announced that it has regained control of most of the areas in Aleppo that were previously held by the rebels, including the key district of Salaheddin. The opposition Syrian Free Army insists that it controls 35 to 40 percent of Aleppo.

The head of the Arab League on Wednesday strongly condemned military actions in Aleppo. Following a meeting with Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov in Egypt, Arab League Secretary General Nabil El-Araby said the military actions in Aleppo amount to war crimes and must be punished under international law.