As an ally of President Bashar al-Assad, Russia deployed fighter planes last weekend against the last large group of rebels in the region. This time they mainly targeted civilian homes. The rebel bastion in Idlib is partly controlled by the jihadist movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Since October, Russian and Syrian forces have increased violence in response to a drone attack against the army. More than a hundred people lost their lives. Syria’s Defense Minister said on Tuesday that eight more drones belonging to “terrorist organizations” were shot down.
The conflict in Syria, which began in 2011 with the suppression of pro-democracy demonstrations, has killed more than half a million people. The regime has now largely regained control with the support of its Russian and Iranian allies.