Assad's forces expected to move on to Idlib
The Syrian regime appears ready to target militants in Idlib, but the area is also filled with civilians who have fled there to escape the violence in so many other parts of the country.
Now that the Syrian regime and its allies have won control of eastern Ghouta and much of Douma, it looks like Idlib is next in the line of fire.
President Bashar al-Assad, with the support of the Russian air force and Iranian and Hezbollah military support on the ground, has made significant advances against the opposition. Observers believe those forces' intermittent bombardment of Idlib province, which has killed and wounded many, could warn of a pending all-out attack.
Thousands of civilians and militants fleeing other areas have sought refuge in Idlib, and the United Nations has fears of a humanitarian disaster there on the scale of Aleppo. The UN estimates 2.5 million Syrians live in Idlib, and a March 23 UNICEF update estimates 1 million of them are children.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements in March show Ankara intends to extend to Idlib its Operation Olive Branch, an offensive that began in Afrin. Also, Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, confirmed April 13 the Syrian regime intends to tackle Idlib next. Battles there are likely to spark heated political debate, especially among Turkey, Russia and Iran, as to the province's ultimate fate.
