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| - Syrian and Russian forces ramped up bombardments on Idlib province nine months ago to retake the country's last major rebel-held bastion. The recapture Wednesday of the northwestern province's second-biggest city of Maaret al-Numan, which had been out of regime control for seven years, is a major step in their advance. Here is a look back at the offensive: On April 26 and 27, 2019, Russian aircraft carry out air raids on Idlib and Hama provinces, killing around 15 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Since January 2019, the region has been under the control of the jihadist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate. Russia, a key regime ally against an uprising that started in Syria in 2011, insists it targets only "terrorists". By early May, the strikes have forced 150,000 people to flee and knocked 12 hospitals and 10 schools out of action, the UN says. On June 3, Human Rights Watch accuses the regime and Russia of using banned weapons, including cluster munitions and air-dropped "barrel bombs". In a new flare-up from June 15, at least 45 people, including 10 civilians, are killed in air strikes and clashes. Five days later, regime bombardment kills another 20 civilians. On July 22, strikes kill around 50 civilians, most of them at a market in Maaret al-Numan, the Observatory says. Regime forces make advances in August, including taking the key town of Khan Sheikhun. On August 31, a Russian-backed truce comes into effect. The past four months of strikes had killed nearly 1,000 civilians, the Observatory says. More than 400,000 had been displaced. On September 10, Russia carries out air strikes on jihadist targets for the first time since the truce. With China, it vetoes on September 19 a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire amid warnings of a humanitarian crisis. Regime bombardments kill about 13 civilians in Maaret al-Numan on December 2. From mid-December, pro-government forces backed by Russian air power intensify their bombings and make steady advances on the ground. In two weeks, nearly 80 civilians are killed in air strikes and artillery attacks, the Observatory says. Clashes leave hundreds of fighters dead on both sides. The day before a new Russian-backed ceasefire is due to go into effect, the regime carries out air strikes on Idlib on January 11 that the Observatory says kill around 18 civilians. There is intense fighting between pro-government forces and jihadists, and the truce does not take hold. On January 21, Russian strikes in Idlib and Aleppo provinces kill at least 23 civilians, including 13 children. The UN says 38,000 people have fled violence in Aleppo between January 15 and 19. This adds to some 358,000 displaced from their homes in Idlib, the vast majority of them women and children, since December 1. By January 24, Damascus loyalists are just kilometres from Maaret al-Numan, the Observatory reports. They seize two dozen towns and villages around Maaret al-Numan, fully encircling it and reaching the outskirts in coming days. Battles leave several fighters dead on both sides. On January 28, government forces enter the town, which was captured by rebels fighting against President Bashar al-Assad's rule in 2012. It is semi-deserted after months of bombardment but remains a strategic prize on a key highway connecting the capital to second city Aleppo. doc-br/lg/hc
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