Driven by the reconquest of territories and despite the opposition of the international community, Bashar Al-Assad does not intend to put an end to his offensive. The Syrian president pledged on Monday February 17 to continue his advance in the northwest of the country to "Liberate" the ultimate stronghold held by jihadists and rebels.
His statements in a televised speech come as the United Nations (UN) reiterates its calls for a ceasefire in the Idlib region and surrounding areas, bruised by fighting and airstrikes.
Since December, nearly 900,000 people, the vast majority of them women and children, have been displaced, according to a new report by the United Nations. “They are traumatized and forced to sleep outside in freezing temperatures because the camps (for the displaced) are full. Mothers burn plastic to warm the children. Babies and young children die from the cold ”protested Monday in a statement UN Deputy Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock. "Violence in north-western Syria is blind", he regretted, demanding a cease-fire, "Only option" according to him.
Steadfast Russian ally
"The battle for the liberation of the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib continues, regardless of the empty outspoken speech from the north"launched President Assad on Monday, referring to repeated warnings from neighboring Turkey. Government forces recaptured the belt of localities around Aleppo’s metropolitan area on Sunday, repelling jihadists and rebels who fired rockets into Syria’s second city.
In recent days, Damascus troops have also taken control of sections of a highway connecting Aleppo to the capital. Since December, they have continued their offensive in the northwest, supported by the air force of the steadfast Russian ally.
More than 380 civilians have died in the violence since mid-December, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH). And even if the metropolis of Aleppo was taken over in its entirety at the end of 2016 by the power, hundreds of civilians have perished since that date in rocket and shell fire by jihadists and rebels, according to the Observatory .
It is the jihadists of Hayat Tahrir Al-Cham (HTS, former Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda) who dominate more than half of the province of Idlib and adjoining sectors in those of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia . These territories also host other jihadist groups, but also rebel factions.
Tensions between Damascus and Ankara
Experts say despite the regime’s determination to recapture the entire Idlib stronghold, jihadists and rebels could preserve part of the province if neighboring Turkey remains determined to hinder the regime’s advancement. Ankara, which supports rebel groups, maintains troops in northwestern Syria and has sent reinforcements there in recent days. Already hosting more than 3.5 million refugees, Turkey fears that the Damascus offensive will cause another influx of people to its closed border.
Illustrating the tensions between Damascus and Ankara, clashes of unprecedented violence pitted Turkish soldiers against Syrian forces in the northwest in early February. In recent years, the government of Damascus has multiplied its victories until it regains control of more than 70% of Syria. Triggered in March 2011 with the suppression of peaceful demonstrations, the war in Syria has killed more than 380,000 people.
