The fighting in Syria is intensifying as a regime offensive to recapture Idlib Province ramps up. On Tuesday, air strikes reportedly killed at least 21 civilians in the northwest territory, including nine children. Damascus began its assault about one month ago in defiance of a cease-fire agreement between Russia and Turkey, with a view to recapturing the region currently dominated by an Al-Qaida-linked group. An estimated 3 million people have found themselves in the crossfire, prompting fears that the violence could create another humanitarian crisis and mass exodus toward the Turkish border. In response, the US State Department expressed concern over the “reckless escalation” and warned that “indiscriminate attacks on civilians and public infrastructure such as schools, markets and hospitals… [are] unacceptable.” Despite the harsh rhetoric, many believe that Washington has little influence over events in Syria due to the limited American military presence that President Donald Trump wants to reduce even further.