joining us now via skype from beirut is asso correspondent sarah el deeb. sarah, for those people who might not have been paying attention over the past few days or weeks, who are fighting idlib, and what's at stake here? >> everyone is fighting over idlib, to put it simply. i mean, everyone that is involved in theyrian war finds themes on the center stage in the idlib battle. the government is eager to retake idlib. it was one of the last spots that is out of its control. turkey, that is on the border with iib, is worried over an offensive, and is keen on not seeing one happen. and it also supports some of the oprsposition fightn and around idlib. russia, which is a supporter of the government, iran, wants to sort out idlib. >> sreenivasan: who is actually in there? you have people who are against the islamic state. you have people who are against the syria you have people who are are ing the-- people threaten turks. what's the population really being targeted here? >> there are over three million ipeople in ib, and i think the way you put it is a little bi