Syrian army, allied militia gain ground against IS. Syrian troops and allied militia have pushed back Islamic State militants and U.S-backed opposition fighters, gaining control of a large swath of territory in the country's strategic southern desert. Ref. Source 7e.
Yes, and with a lot of Russian help. It wasn't too long ago that Russia was completely frozen out of the Middle East. It had been that way for a few decades, since the first President Bush. And now, they are a huge force. That is directly because of President Obama's foreign policy, which was an utter failure. And [By The Way], that foreign policy was what SECSTATE Clinton put in place. So yes, she was a failure too.
It's not really a civil war anymore. Turkey, Russia, Iran all are getting involved. Some more than others. It has been the worst conflict since WWII for deaths of civilians, with ample evidence of chemical attacks used being ignored by the purported body that is supposed to enforce international law - the UN - is about as effectual as an umbrella in a hurricane. Definitely the deadliest conflict in the 21st century, but we've just barely started.