Syrian Rebels Preventing Refugees from Leaving Idlib as Russian Forces Prepare Final Offensive
Friday September 14, 2018
As Russian and Syrian forces prepare an offensive to take the last remaining rebel stronghold, some refugees from Idlib province say Syrian rebels are stopping their families from fleeing the fighting.
"We were forced to exile from our homes and our country because of the terrorists of Jabhat Al Nusra and Daesh [Islamic State]," one 53-year-old refugee, Ahmad, said.
He said he had been in Lebanon's Bar Elias camp in the Bekaa Valley for five years. All the refugees in this part of the camp are from Idlib province, where Russian and Syrian forces are preparing an offensive against the last stronghold held by rebels.
Ahmad said he was frightened for his family remaining in Idlib.
"Right now there are no heavy bombardments as they are negotiating, they are meeting," he said.
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