Welcome to pushback. I'm Aramate. The Syrian province of Idlib is facing a humanitarian disaster

in what could be the last major battle of Syria's nine-year proxy war. The Syrian government

with Russia's backing is retaking Idlib from Turkish, U.S US and Gulf-backed militants.

Under heavy bombardment, hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes.

Mark Locock, the UN's emergency relief coordinator, says nowhere in Idlib is safe.

People are fleeing under horrendous conditions.

Many are on foot or on the backs of trucks in below freezing temperatures, in the

rain and in the snow.

They're moving into increasingly crowded areas they think will be safer.

But in Idlib, nowhere is safe.

For many weeks now, Western audiences have seen the harrowing images coming out of Idlib

and learned of the massive civilian suffering there.

But we have not been given the full picture.

The militants who control Idlib are often described as rebels without specifying who they actually are.

Idlib is mostly controlled by a group called

Hayat Terrier al-Sham, which essentially is a rebranded affiliate of Al-Qaeda. And they and other

jihadist groups have ruled Idlib for several years with the help of Turkey and its allies.

Under the Sochi Agreement, brokered with Russia in 2018, Turkey committed to

disarm and neutralize the jihadi groups that control Idlib. That has not happened. In fact,

Turkey is threatening a direct military escalation on their behalf. Turkey has sent thousands of troops

into Idlib and is even saying it might launch an operation

against Syrian forces unless they pull back.

...