President Hassan Rouhani has hailed Iranians for turning out in millions on Friday to celebrate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, saying the rallies are a response to recent threats by new US rulers against Iran.

Iranians began nationwide rallies on Friday to mark the 38th victory anniversary of the country's Islamic Revolution by taking to the streets in the capital city of Tehran and up to 5,000 cities, towns and villages.

Syrian army forces have managed to establish control over several villages in the strategic northern province of Aleppo following intense clashes with Takfiri Daesh militants.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for an immediate cessation of the Israeli regime’s settlement expansion activities in the occupied Palestinian lands.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stressed that Iran’s military might is merely meant for self-defense as the country has never interfered in the domestic affairs of other states and has no plans to do so in the future.

A US federal appeals court has rejected a request from the Justice Department to restore President Donald Trump’s executive order banning citizens of seven Muslim countries from entering the United States, setting up a potential showdown in the Supreme Court.