You seem to know more about this than most.
One of the issues I found troubling last year was the US message. Last year - mind you... The message sent to Syria/Russia to use your nomenclature was to not touch Al Qaeda in Idlib.
I never understood it then, but perhaps now it makes sense. That the US troops already then were on the scent of the Isis leadership and wanted to pursue that without getting barrels bombs dropped on their head?
Thoughts?
Last year Syria made great advances against terrorists by offering them safe passage from other areas to Idlib.
The terrorists would go instead of fight, maybe get some bucks too.
Russia acted as guarantors.
So now Idlib is full of terrorists groups all competing with each other.
So they tend to rat each other out.
Notice Badhdadi was killed on his way from a meeting with a competing group.
I think that’s what you’re seeing.