Syrian army preparing phased Idlib assault: source

Russia, President Bashar al-Assad's main backer from outside the region, said on Wednesday that militants there must be liquidated and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described them as "a festering abscess".The offensive would initially target southern and western parts of the insurgent territory, but not yet Idlib city, said the source, an official in the regional alliance backing Assad.There were still negotiations over the offensive going on between Russia and Turkey, as well as with Iran whic