Middle East crisis live: UN envoy to Syria warns conflict is not over amid ‘significant hostilities’

Geir Pedersen warns of intense clashes between Turkish-backed and Kurdish groups in the north

France has raised its flag over its embassy in Damascus, Syria, after it had been closed for 12 years during the country's civil war, the foreign ministry said.

France sent a team of diplomats to Syria on Tuesday to assess the political and security situation. The team will not be staying, however, and the gesture does not mean the embassy has reopened, according to reports.