Analysis: "Hundreds of thousands of children flee in Idlib"

Syrian government forces have now taken control of almost all of the strategically important highway linking the country's largest cities Damascus and Aleppo.

At the same time, the risk of a military confrontation between Syrian and Turkish troops is rising. The escalated bomb offensive continues and on Monday, five Turkish soldiers were killed in Idlib province. The UN calls for a cease-fire, but at present a cease-fire looks distant.

The situation in Idlib has been described as a humanitarian disaster, and as hell on earth. Three million civilians are trapped between jihadists and the Syrian and Russian bomb attacks that have escalated in recent weeks. According to the UN, 700,000 civilians in the area have been forced to flee since December.

They flee north towards the Turkish border. But the border is closed, and Turkey, which already has 3.6 million Syrian refugees in the country, wants to prevent a new wave of refugees at all costs. At the same time, the humanitarian crisis in Idlib shows no signs of slowing down. Weather conditions have deteriorated and those who are now fleeing seek protection from cold and rain in tents and under tarps.

Idlib is the last area in Syria controlled by the armed opposition to the government of Damascus. Jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al Sham dominating the area has ties to al-Qaeda. There are also rebel groups loyal to Turkey.

The fighting in Idlib threatens the fragile agreement between Turkey that supports the armed opposition in Syria, and Russia, which has played a crucial role in turning the war to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's favor. After eight Turkish soldiers were killed by Syrian government forces last week, Turkey's President warned Russia to stand in the way of revenge attacks. Turkey reports that 30 Syrian soldiers were killed in the revenge attacks, data the Syrian government army denies.

Over the weekend, Turkey has strengthened its military presence in Idlib province.

Convoys of hundreds of Turkish military vehicles have crossed the border to strengthen Turkish military posts located in northwestern Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Russia to curb the Syrian offensive. Unless Syrian forces withdrew from Turkey's military posts in Idlib at the end of the month, Turkey will act, the warning sounded.

According to the UN, 373 civilians have been killed in Idlib province in Syria since December 1, 2019. away from the military escalation ”.

UN Syrian Envoy Geir Pedersen calls the situation a humanitarian disaster and has called for an immediate cease-fire.

But a cease-fire looks anything but probable at the moment. Syrian government forces said yesterday that it has recaptured more than 600 square kilometers in Idlib and that the offensive will continue.