IDLIB

July 15, 2019

More than two months into a military offensive centred on Syria’s Idlib province, Russian-backed government forces have made little headway in the face of fierce resistance from extremist fighters.

About: 

  • Idlib Governorate is one of the province of Syria. It is situated in north-western Syria, bordering Turkey. 

  • The Idlib area is dominated by Tahrir al-Sham, the jihadists formerly known as the Nusra Front.

  • Proscribed as a terrorist group by the UN Security Council, the group has set aside past conflict with Turkish-backed rebels to defend northwest Syria. 

  • While resisting government attacks, the insurgents have managed to carve out small advances of their own, drawing on ample stocks of guided anti-tank missiles that opposition and diplomatic sources say have been supplied by Turkey, Reuters reported.