Growing Global Concerns Over 'Massacre' in Syria's Idlib

On Wednesday, just two days before a summit of governments supporting the Syrian regime and rebels, international concerns about a 'massacre' in Idlib, the last area under rebel control, intensified. According to AFP, in recent weeks, Syrian government forces have been gathering on the outskirts of Idlib, located in the northwest of the country near the Turkish border. At the same time, fears of an unprecedented humanitarian disaster in the seven-year civil war in Syria have increased. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the Syrian government on Wednesday about a large-scale attack on Idlib. On Friday, the presidents of Turkey, Russia, and Iran are set to negotiate the future of the region in Tehran. On Tuesday, the UN special envoy for Syria urged the presidents of Turkey and Russia to speak by phone before their meeting on Friday. Stefan de Mistura called for 'serious actions to prevent the last major battle in Syria from turning into a bloodbath.' More than half of Idlib is controlled by the jihadist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (formerly al-Nusra Front), which was previously allied with al-Qaeda, while other parts of the region are controlled by Turkey-backed rebels. Government forces also control a small area in southeastern Idlib. The United Nations and aid groups have warned that a large-scale military operation in this area could lead to one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the Syrian war, which has already claimed over 350,000 lives and displaced millions. According to UN statistics, about 2.9 million people, including one million children, live in Idlib and surrounding areas. Many of them are families of rebels and civilians who have migrated to Idlib after their residential areas were captured by the government in the past year. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump warned about a large-scale military invasion of Idlib, stating it 'could lead to a humanitarian disaster.' Last year, Russia, Turkey, and Iran designated Idlib as a 'de-escalation zone,' but this agreement does not include the jihadist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. AFP adds that on Tuesday, after a 22-day pause, Russian aircraft resumed their attacks on Idlib. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that at least 13 people, including 6 children, have been killed in various parts of Idlib due to these airstrikes. The Russian government announced that 4 of its fighter jets attacked Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham positions using highly precise weapons. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that on Wednesday, government forces attacked several points, including the city of Jisr al-Shughur, which is controlled by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, using artillery and rocket launchers. The Russian airbase in Hmeimim is located southeast of Latakia, which is one of the important areas controlled by the government and adjacent to Idlib. Russia has accused the rebels stationed in Idlib of sending armed drones to attack this base. The upcoming summit of the presidents of Russia, Turkey, and Iran on Friday in Tehran is expected to be crucial in determining the scope and timing of the Syrian government forces' attacks on Idlib. According to Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a Security Council meeting regarding Idlib is also scheduled for that day. She warned on Tuesday about the use of chemical weapons in the attack on Idlib, and the White House announced a few days ago that it would respond to such attacks 'with strength and proportionately.'