The countdown for Idlib began after the unsuccessful trilateral summit in Tehran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Hasan Ruhani and their Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan gathered on Friday in Tehran to talk about Syria.

Erdogan wanted a "ceasefire" and a “gateway for mercenaries”. But his insistence was not successful. 

Iran and Russia support Syria and the accumulation of power for the operation expected to begin at any moment, continues.

From Thursday, the flux of civilians escaping from the region accelerated.

Idlib, which was occupied by the armed groups in 2015, is today the last region in the hands of the mercenaries. There are tens of thousands of armed mercenaries and millions of civilians. The members of the mercenary groups and their families have been sent to Idlib as the Syrian regime was progressively retaking control over the other areas in the country.

The fact that Russian fighter planes bombed mercenaries directly linked with Ankara while the trilateral summit in Tehran and the UN Security Council meeting on Idlib were taking place, was perceived as a message.

Erdogan's ceasefire resolution proposed at the Tehran trilateral summit was refuted by Putin  saying that "there are no representatives of the armed groups".

Putin emphasized that the Syrian government has the right to fully control Idlib. 

Adding that concrete proposals for stability can be discussed over Idlib, Putin said these measures provide opportunities for those who are ready for dialogue and in favour of an agreement. This statement was referring to groups that are ready to release weapons.

Speaking at the UN Security Council in New York, the UN special representative in Syria, Staffan de Mistura, wanted concrete measures to protect civilians. De Mistura said: "East, north and south, safe corridors are needed for evacuations in every direction”.