Fighting in northwest Syria causes 200,000 displacements: UN

Members of the Syrian government forces stand on a tank in Jabal al-Hass in the southern part of Aleppo province as they advance towards the Abu Duhur military airport in the ongoing offensive against opposition fighters on January 14, 2018. / AFP / George OURFALIAN

Escalating violence in northwest Syria has caused more than 200,000 displacements since mid-December, the United Nations said Tuesday, warning that medical facilities in the area were struggling to cope.

Russian-backed Syrian troops launched an offensive in late 2017 against militants and allied groups in Idlib, the last province in the country still fully outside the government's control.

The assault has seen tens of thousands flee, with many displaced multiple times.