Government forces have retaken control of a strategically important town in southern Syria, activists say.
Sheikh Miskeen, which lies on one of the main routes from Damascus to the city of Deraa and the Jordanian border, fell after a month-long battle.
Russian warplanes were reported to have played a key role in the offensive.
Russia’s foreign minister meanwhile declared its intervention had changed the course of the conflict in Syria, ahead of the start of peace talks.
Sergei Lavrov also warned it would be impossible to negotiate a political settlement without allowing Kurdish groups to attend.
The indirect “proximity talks” are due to start in Geneva on Friday, but the United Nations has yet to send out invitations because of disagreements over who should be included in the opposition delegation.
