Syrian government soldiers celebrate after taking control of the village of Ratian, north of the embattled city of Aleppo, from rebel fighters on February 6, 2016. 
Thousands of Syrians fled towards Turkey as regime troops pressed a major Russian-backed offensive around Aleppo, that threatens a fresh humanitarian disaster.



 / AFP / GEORGE OURFALIAN        (Photo credit should read GEORGE OURFALIAN/AFP/Getty Images)