The Heat: Syrian government launches military offensive in Idlib to end its devastating civil war
Updated 12:01, 15-Sep-2018
CGTN's The Heat
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A major Syrian offensive is underway in the country's Idlib province, the last rebel-held territory, after the Russian, Iranian and Turkish presidents failed to agree to a ceasefire, indicating an end to a brutal civil war that has gripped Syria for more than seven years. 
Meanwhile, the United Nation warned of a humanitarian crisis if those 30 million civilians in Idlib have nowhere to go when the Syrian government forces press ahead with a ground offensive. 
Rasha Elass, a Syrian-American journalist, called this final fight an "asymmetric battle", where the Syrian government and its allies have absolute power to win. 
"Once the troops go on - I won't say fight because it is asymmetric - then people in Idlib will be invited or pressured back into the Assad regime," she said. "That's when the rewriting of history begins." 
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According to her prediction, these 30 million civilians can only "brace themselves for the worst", because many of them are regarded as traitors and former defectors in the eye of Syrian government. The fate in wait for them can be anything but a warm welcome. They could be sent to the worst places along the frontline, and pressured to change their previous testimony about witnessing the government's chemical weapon use. 
"What we are seeing right now is that the war at large is a sophisticated, aggressive propaganda campaign to finish this civil-turned regional war," she concluded. 
The US, which has been withdrawing armies and minimizing its involvement in Syria, has lowered the strategic importance of the country from its geopolitics plan in the Middle East. The primary two goals of the US in the region, according to Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, focus on security concerns of America and its allies. 
"The US cares more about the threat posed by Iran on Israel, and the defeat of ISIS," said O'Hanlonat at a recent panel. "Only after that, issues like refugee flows, political transition or reconstruction on the autonomous areas will be discussed." 
Newly displaced Syrian children arrive to a refugee camp in Atimah village, Idlib province, Syria on September 11, 2018 /VCG Photo

Newly displaced Syrian children arrive to a refugee camp in Atimah village, Idlib province, Syria on September 11, 2018 /VCG Photo

Another reason for US's passive position is its relatively weak control of the region, or as Michael put it, "at an impasse in terms of the ability to use much leverage."
As for Russia, this decisive battle to erase the last troop of rebels showed its dominant military power, and is within its regional security interests. However, whether it can push ahead an ideal political process remains a question. 
"What Russia wants in the short term is a limited military operation, like a joint Russia and Syrian government forces in Ldlib," said Alexey Khlebnikov, a Middle East expert with the Russian International Affairs Council. "For longer term concerns, Russia wants to form a constitutional committee under the Geneva process." However, this political process may not roll out as expected. 
Turkey, backing the last opposition troop in Syria, asked for a ceasefire with Russia, but was rejected because President Putin pointed out that "no one signs the deal for the rebels or terrorists." 
Before the last war takes place, the Wall Street Journal reported that Syria president Assad "gave permission to use chlorine gas in the battle for Idlib", triggering objections from the US However, Ammar Waqqaf, the founder and director of Gnosos, saw this as a tactic to further disassemble rebels. 
"Assad can easily win the war, but faces lots of difficulties in rooting out terrorists amidst three million people," he said. "That's why he would like to have every level of disposal, and create fear by threatening to use those weapons." 
Syria is seeing an end to the seven year civil war, but discussion continues on whether the strong powers of the world should be held accountable for the suffering they caused in this country. Some experts justify the necessity of foreign interventions to prevent Syria from sliding into chaos. However, Ammar opposes this view. 
"It's the foreign involvement that prompted Syria to face a similar fate to Yemen, Iraq or Lybia," he said. 
The Heat with Anand Naidoo is a 30-minute political talk show on CGTN. It airs weekdays at 7:00 a.m. BJT and 7:00 p.m. Eastern in the United States.