The last militant stronghold
Syria’s militant-dominated Idlib province is the last major area remaining mostly out of regime control after more than seven years of civil war. Here is some background.
Falls in 2015
The province shares a border with rebel-backer Turkey and is also adjacent to Latakia, a regime stronghold on the Mediterranean coast that is home to Bashar Al Assad’s clan. Before fighting broke out in 2011. In March 2015 a coalition of fighters including some linked to Al Qaida seized the provincial capital.
Hardliners come out on top
Hardcore extremist factions have since overpowered more moderate rebels. Around 60 per cent of Idlib is controlled by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), led by Syria’s former Al Qaida affiliate, with other hardliners also present.
The rest is held by the National Liberation Front (NLF), an alliance formed in August that merged Islamist groups Ahrar Al Sham and Nour Al Deeb Al Zinki with other rebel factions.
Chemical attacks
Government forces have been accused of several chemical attacks in Idlib. A UN commission has found that helicopters from two regimecontrolled air bases had dropped chlorine-filled barrel bombs on two Idlib villages in 2014 and 2015. In October 2016 the commission concluded that the army also carried out a chemical attack, probably with chlorine, at a third village in 2015. A sarin gas attack in April 2017 hit the town of Khan Shaikhun, killing 83 people, according to the UN.
From de-escalation to new target
In 2017 Idlib province was one of four “de-escalation” zones established by the three main power brokers of Syria’s conflict - Russia, Iran and Turkey - in a bid to reduce violence. However, in December, regime forces backed by Russian air power launched an offensive to recapture its southeast.
Buffer zone agreed
On August 9 regime forces shelled some areas and dropped leaflets urging people to surrender. Russian air raids struck the province over several days from September 7, raising fears that an all-out assault was imminent. On Monday, Russia and Turkey announced a deal to create a demilitarised buffer zone in the province.