Under Russian air cover ... Regime forces advance in Idlib countryside, Turkey warns Europe of new displacement

On Sunday, Syrian regime forces under the Russian air cover took control of nine villages and towns in the southeastern countryside of Idlib, according to official Syrian television.

Syrian television indicated that the regime forces had taken control of the villages and towns of Abu Anal, Al-Heraki, Al-Quraqi, Hataya, Al-Bustan, Al-Burj, Farwan, Al-Saqia'a, and Karasta, after fighting with what they described as "terrorists".

Al-Jazeera correspondent confirmed that the regime forces are now on the edge of the Turkish observation point in the town of Sorman from the eastern and southern sides, while the southern countryside of Idlib is witnessing battles through which the regime forces are trying to advance at the expense of the opposition in the region.

The correspondent reported that at least 12 civilians were killed in an air strike targeting cities and towns in Idlib countryside, and sources in the armed opposition were quoted as saying that these raids were carried out by Russian and Syrian aircraft.

Meanwhile, the battle areas witnessed a massive movement of civilians towards the Turkish border, after the rapid advance of the regime forces and their control over the villages and towns there.

The Organization of "Response Coordinators" estimated the number of displaced people since the beginning of last month at more than 200,000, as a result of the military campaign of the Syrian regime and Russia to maintain the province.

The organization has also documented the killing of more than 225 civilians - including 74 children - as a result of Syrian and Russian bombing of Idlib since last November.

Turkish warning
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed that 80,000 Syrians have been displaced from Idlib due to the recent escalation, indicating that his country cannot tolerate a new wave of displacement.

Erdogan warned that Europe will feel the impact of the wave of migrants if the violence does not stop in Idlib, indicating that his country will do everything in its power with Russia to stop the attacks, and that a Turkish delegation will go to Moscow on Monday to discuss the Syrian file, and Ankara will take the necessary steps based on the results of the talks.

It is noteworthy that the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham controls the largest part of Idlib Governorate, which houses three million people, and nearly half of them are displaced from other regions. Other less powerful opposition factions are also active in it.

Although last August, a truce agreement was reached in which the regime forces launched a four-month offensive in the province, and for weeks the area has been under fire from Syrian and Russian warplanes.