Russian and regime warplanes have been striking Idlib for weeks without any regard for civilian vulnerability. The increasing pressure in the recent period was one of the main motivations of this operation. Just a few days ago, children were killed in a Quranic school hit by an airstrike. Even today, Russian planes continued to hit Idlib while the siege of Aleppo continued. In fact, the Syrian people have been used to air strikes for years.
But I think what was unusual about these airstrikes yesterday was the statement of HTS, which was full of messages and in a tone that we don't remember any example of before. The statement said that they are never enemies of Russia, that the Syrian people are not enemies of Russia, that they can build the future of Syria together on the basis of mutual respect, and that Russia should not equate Syrian people fate with Assad.
My conclusion is that this statement did not come out of nowhere, and that there is a mechanism behind it, and consultations perhaps through mediations.
But I think what was unusual about these airstrikes yesterday was the statement of HTS, which was full of messages and in a tone that we don't remember any example of before. The statement said that they are never enemies of Russia, that the Syrian people are not enemies of Russia, that they can build the future of Syria together on the basis of mutual respect, and that Russia should not equate Syrian people fate with Assad.
My conclusion is that this statement did not come out of nowhere, and that there is a mechanism behind it, and consultations perhaps through mediations.