U.N. Syria envoy floats idea of evacuating civilians from Idlib

GENEVA — Fearing a military offensive, the U.N. envoy for Syria proposed Thursday that civilians holed up in the rebel-held region of Idlib could evacuate to government areas — a move that would send many back into parts of Syria they once fled in its 71⁄ year-old civil war.

U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura expressed fears of a “perfect storm” that could have a devastating impact on nearly 3 million people in the region largely controlled by al-Qaidalinked fighters. It came as Russia, President Bashar Assad’s strongest military backer, announced major military drills in the Mediterranean Sea amid growing tensions over the enclave.

The proposal reflected rising concerns that Idlib could become the next humanitarian disaster in a war that has killed over 400,000 people.