Idlib II.

This is coolbert:

Everyone is making ready! This could go from bad to worse and quick! Idlib!

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile:

1. "Trump's Syria envoys arrive in ME: US says no to Idlib offensive"

2 September.

"Two senior US envoys for Syria arrived in Jerusalem on Sunday, Sept. 2 to follow up on President Donald Trump's decision to challenge Russian strategy in Syria as well as Iran. James Jeffrey, Special Representative for Syria engagement, and Joel Rayburn, Special Envoy for Syria, will continue from Israel to Turkey and Jordan . . .  Their first priority for clothing US policy with a substantial pro-active role is to avert the scheduled Russian-Iranian-Syrian offensive against Idlib, the last Syrian rebel bastion."

"Moscow responded to this US turnabout by sending a Russian war fleet and special forces in the eastern Mediterranean and Syria. Russia and Iran see a victory in Idlib as the triumphant finale of their successful Syrian venture, and US obstruction as designed to steal their crowning success to serve its own interests."

2. "Russian warplanes pound rebel bastions in Idlib"

4 September.   

"Russia resumed air strikes on rebel-held Idlib on Tuesday, after a 22-day pause, the London-based observatory reported. Earlier, President Donald trump warned Bashar Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies against 'recklessly attacking' the last rebel-held province of Syria.The Russians and Iranians would be making a grave humanitarian mistake to take part in this potential human tragedy," he tweeted."

3. "DEBKAfile: US-Turkish bid to delay Idlib offensive"

5 September.

"Amid heavy Russian air strikes, the US and Turkey are trying to delay the Russian-Iranian-Syrian offensive on rebel-held Idlib province. The effort is led by James Jeffrey, the Trump administration's Syrian negotiator . . . [further] that, notwithstanding differences between Washington and Ankara on the Kurdish issue, President Tayyip Erdogan may be willing to persuade his Russian and Iranian counterpart at their summit in Tehran on Friday to delay the operation for a few days for negotiations."

4. "France ready to attack Syria if chemical weapons used"

6 September.

"French forces are prepared to attack Syrian targets if chemical weapons are used in the forthcoming government offensive to retake Idlib, said French Armed Forces Chief Francois Lecointre to reporters on Thursday."

5. "Russian, Iranian, Turkish leaders meet amid divisions on Idlib"
   
7 September.

"Presidents Vladimir Putin, Hassan Rouhani and Tayyip Erdogan are meeting in Tehran Friday to chart a joint offensive with Syria for taking Idlib, the last rebel bastion in Syria. Erdogan aims to persuade the Russian and Iranian leaders to postpone the offensive or keep it low-key".

HST hard core jihadists and not going to fold easily. Have had months to prepare as did the Islamic State in Mosul.

As I said, prepare for the worst.

coolbert.