Syrians flee southern Idlib, aim for Turkish border

A further wave of Syrians fled the rebel-held Idlib region and headed towards the Turkish border on Wednesday.Syria's opposition civil defence movement - also known as the White Helmets - released video Tuesday showing queues of trucks and vehicles loaded with people and their belongings. Syrian government forces have been slowly chipping away at Idlib, despite a fragile Russian-brokered cease-fire three months ago.

Since the cease-fire, the government has been pushing to clear access to a strategic highway that links the capital Damascus and northwestern city of Aleppo. The United Nations estimates that some 60,000 people have fled from the area, heading south, after attacks on Idlib intensified earlier this month. Thousands have fled towards the border in recent days, where the UN has warned of the growing risk of a humanitarian catastrophe.