A Ferris wheel stands in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan town in Idlib province, Syria.
At night, Idlib, Syria, has a wondrous glow. In fact, the atmosphere is so stark that the stars appear especially bright. It looks sleepy, peaceful.
But the rebel-held city, where the streets are eerily quiet once darkness falls, may soon be in harm’s way — as the possible next target of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s military offensive.
Now that Syrian government forces have recaptured Aleppo in a crushing campaign, many suggest they are likely to turn their attentions to Idlib.
Thousands of refugees from Aleppo have been evacuated there, and UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura has warned the city could face the same fate as Aleppo.
Idlib was bustling with people before the Syrian war began in 2011, but now, few residents venture outside their homes at night.
Sometimes aircraft can be heard overhead. Syrian and Russian warplanes and helicopters have carried out strikes for months against rebels in Idlib province, which lies to the southwest of Aleppo.
Resident Abdullah Haj Asaad, 29, says he no longer sends clothes from his sewing shop to the markets at night.
"Nowadays, we can only send the finished goods in the morning, cars stop driving at night because of thieves and bandits fearing looting and theft," he said.
"In case of emergencies we can get out at night, but that's still very risky. … I used to go out with my friends to cafes at night and stay up until dawn, we never used to check our watches."
But now "we hang out at a different friend's house every weekend and sleep over until morning," he added.
