The Syrian regime is preparing to launch the operation on the city riddled with Turkish-backed mercenaries. 

İdlib is located to the north-west of Syria. Its fate is being discussed today by a number of foreign powers. On the one hand, Russia, Iran and Turkey, and on the other the US and the UN Security Council.

Russian, Turkish and Iranian presidents are in Tehran for the Syrian summit. The main item on the agenda is the situation in Idlib. A few hours later, the same issue will be brought on the table at the UN Security Council meeting.

While all eyes were turned to the operation in Idlib, in recent days there was heavy traffic between Ankara, Moscow and Damascus. 

Ankara is looking for ways to protect its mercenary allies in Idlib. Negotiations are being conducted behind closed doors. 

Tehran and Moscow reiterated their support for the Damascus regime before the meeting. 

"We have killed, we are killing and we will continue to kill terrorists" explicitly said Maria Zaharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. “Whether they are in Aleppo, Idlib or any other place”, she added.

Idlib was seized by armed groups in 2015. Today, it stands out as the only large region still in the hands of the mercenaries in Syria. Tens of thousands of armed people and civilians, were redirected to Idlib from other regions regained by the Syrian regime.

US threats

The United Nations and Western powers worry about a new humanitarian catastrophe as a result of a possible operation. 

The UN said that up to 800 thousand people could be displaced, and the UN special representative in Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said that the operation could begin around 10 September.

The White House also warned on Tuesday the Damascus regime together with its allies, Russia and Iran not to use chemical weapons in Idlib. 

US President Donald Trump said: “The world and the US are closely watching," and threatened that should any massacre happen, the world and the United States answer would be in tune.