Bloomberg: Prigozhin is preparing fighters for an operation in Syria

Hundreds of hired fighters of "Putin's chef" Yevgeny Prigozhin as part of the Syrian Armed Forces plan to conduct a full-scale operation in northwestern Syria near the city of Idlib in a few weeks, Bloomberg writes , citing sources. If the operation is successful, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will seriously strengthen his political positions.

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Details. According to the plan, the mercenaries should interact closely with the Syrian army. Tactical groups of 50, backed by tanks and Russian aircraft, are to engage in street fighting to clear the enclave of thousands of al-Qaeda-linked fighters.

• The operation may take several months.
• The liberation of Idlib from militants would allow President Bashar al-Assad to consolidate control over most important areas of the state. According to agency sources, this will stop talk of his resignation and will be a "big breakthrough" for both him and Russia.
• One of the goals of the operation and the mercenaries will be the creation and maintenance of humanitarian corridors through which the civilian population will be withdrawn.

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Other side. Türkiye, which fears a new wave of refugees, is against the operation. The publication writes that it is not yet clear whether the Kremlin is coordinating its military plans for Idlib with Turkey or acting autonomously. Putin said last week that he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on "additional" measures to "neutralize terrorist centers" in Idlib.

What's next. According to Bloomberg experts, the capture of Idlib will finally allow Assad to restore the economic unity of the country and its main economic center - Aleppo. After that, "Putin will help Erdogan push the Syrian refugees back into Syria," says international relations expert Vladimir Frolov.