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Al-Qaeda-Linked Fighters Take Control of Rebel Enclave, Making Syrian Offensive More Likely
(Washington Post) Louisa Loveluck - Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a coalition of al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Syria's northern Idlib province, have in recent days forced their rivals' surrender in the country's final rebel-held pocket, increasing the likelihood of a showdown with Syrian government forces. Until now, the area has been spared a government offensive thanks to a cease-fire deal between Russia and Turkey. Their agreement stipulated that "radical terrorist groups" would be removed, presumably by Turkey, but it never happened. Sam Heller, a senior analyst with the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said, "The fear is that if the Syrian military and its allies march into Idlib, then a lot of dangerous people currently inside Idlib will scatter in all directions."