Russia-backed Syrian government forces captured the village of Tel Hadya in the northern province of Aleppo on Friday, a monitoring group and state media said, in the latest territorial gains against insurgents in the area.

Syrian state TV reported the capture of the village in Aleppo's southern countryside. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the takeover.

The move brought pro-government forces closer to the main highway that links Damascus to cities further north, including Aleppo, and builds on advances made with support by Russian air strikes.

A military source told AFP that regime soldiers, supported by troops from the Shiite Hezbollah movement and Iran, were in "full control" of the town of Al-Hader as well.

Bolstered by the launch of Russian air strikes in Syria in late September, Assad's forces have launched a series of offensives to regain ground ahead of international talks in Vienna.