Iraq deploys armoured vehicles to border with Syria

Iraq sent armoured vehicles on Monday to reinforce its long border with Syria, in a bid to ease concerns after a surprise offensive in the neighbouring country by Islamist-led terrorists.

The lightning offensive by Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and allied factions saw government forces lose full control of Syria's second city Aleppo for the first time since the civil war began in 2011.

The armed gangs that have occupied a number of neighborhoods in the Syrian city of Aleppo, indulge in looting and kidnappings of local residents, the Syrian state agency SANA has quoted sources in the city as saying.

According to the news agency, the terrorists "practice theft and looting", search both private and public property, and "kidnap civilians".

According to the Syria’s General Directorate of Radio and Television Broadcasting, the militants are intimidating local civil servants and forcing them to obey their orders.