Turkish-Ukrainian Backed Jihadist Offensive Pushes Syrian and Russian Forces Into Retreat

<p >A coalition of Islamist militant groups operating from Syria’s Idlib province have launched a major offensive against Syrian and allied forces, with the Turkish sponsored former Al Qaeda affiliate the Al Nusra Front confirmed to play a central role, while the participation of <a href=" target="_blank">Turkestan Islamic Party forces</a> has also been reported. Offensives began on November 26, and saw jihadist forces push into the Aleppo governate. The initiation of the offensives follows reports that Islamist militants in Idlib were receiving new support from Ukrainian specialists, who had deployed to Idlib through Turkey to train jihadist forces in new tactics with a particular focus on drone warfare. Ukrainian special forces from the Khimik Group on September 15<a href=" > launched an attack</a> on a Russian military facility on the southeastern outskirts of Aleppo, with unconfirmed reports indicating that Ukrainian advisors are supporting the current offensives. </p><p ><img src=" title="Turkestan Islamic Party Child Soldiers in Idlib "></p><p >The Idlib governate straddling the Turkish border had been under the control of jihadist groups for over half a decade, and is the <a href=" target="_blank">primary hub</a> of Islamist terror operations not only in the country, but by many estimates in the wider world. U.S. envoy to the coalition fighting the Islamic State, Brett H. McGurk previously highlighted that “Idlib Province [in Northern Syria bordering Turkey] is the largest Al Qaeda safe haven since 9/11,” with jihadist forces based there numbering in the tens of thousands. Idlib’s status as a jihadist enclave and safe haven for militants has been a direct result of Turkish military interventions on the behalf of terror groups based there, as well as its continued logistical support for their operations. </p><p >Jihadist forces in Idlib endured a major Syrian-led offensive in early 2020, which was supported by the Iranian-aligned militia Hezbollah and by Russian air and special forces assets. Offensives were set back, however, when Turkey provided extensive <a href=" and artillery support</a> to target Syrian positions and protect militants on the ground. Ankara has continued to identify the <a href=" the Syrian government as one of its policy <a href=" with support for jihadist groups seen as a means to achieve this. As Turkey and Ukraine have continued to strengthen defence ties, Turkish connections are thought to have played a key role in allowing Ukrainian forces to establish ties with jihadist groups in the region. </p><p ><img src=" ></p><p >A number of sources have reported that recent offensives into Aleppo by Islamist paramilitaries saw a Russian special forces unit singled out and take casualties. Militants based in Idlib have notably particularly <a href=" target="_blank">prioritised the targeting </a>of Russian military facilities in Syria in the past, with such attacks having escalated since the outbreak of full scale war in Ukraine in 2022. <a href=" target="_blank">Turkish-backed militias</a> have so far captured settlements including Balu, Khayrdrakl, Qubtan Al Jabal, Salum, Al Maari, Qasimiya, Kafr Bisin, and Hawar, and posted footage of captured Syrian and Russian military equipment. Russia has responded to the attacks by increasing air support for Syrian forces. Syrian capabilities have been thinly stretched by 13 years of war with Islamist insurgent groups, continued air strikes from neighbouring Israel, and ongoing tensions with U.S. and other Western forces occupying the country’s oil rich northeastern regions. Alongside Turkey, <a href=" target="_blank">air support for jihadist paramiltiaries</a> has been provided by Israel, the United States and other Western countries in the past.</p>