In 2017, the governorate came under the nominal control of the Syrian Salvation Government, with Tahrir al-Sham becoming the dominant militia in the region.

[4] The remainder of rebel-held territory had been dubbed by publications such as Reuters, the BBC and Agence France-Presse as Syria's "last rebel stronghold".

[5][6][7] Following an offensive by rebel forces led by Tahrir al-Sham, the entirety of the governorate had reportedly fallen under opposition control by 30 November 2024.

Later that day, after pounding the town with rockets and mortars, destroying homes and shops, and killing and wounding dozens of people, the Syrian Army Special Forces helicoptered in from Aleppo to regain control.

This was followed by the Idlib Governorate clashes (June 2012–April 2013), in which the FSA took or regained control of Salqin, Armanaz, Harem, Sarmin, Darkush, Kafr Nabl, Maarrat al-Nu'man and Taftanaz, while government forces maintained control over Jisr ash-Shugur, Fu'ah, Idlib city, Abu al-Duhur airbase and Khan Shaykhun and recaptured Ariha.

[16][17] The release of a toxic gas, which included sarin, or a similar substance,[18] killed at least 74 people and injured more than 557, according to the Idlib health authority.

In September 2017, the Syrian government and its Russian allies intensified bombing raids against rebel-held towns in Idlib, with multiple casualties.

[27][28][29] In September 2018, a demilitarization zone was created on the front between the government and the Turkish-backed opposition, temporarily freezing the conflict.

On 26 October 2019, U.S. Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) conducted a raid in the Idlib province of Syria, on the border with Turkey, that resulted in the death of ISIS leader Abū Bakr al-Baghdadi.

[citation needed] As of March 2020 – if not sooner – rebel control over Idlib Governorate was considered a matter of political survival of the Turkish President Erdoğan.

[35] Tahrir al-Sham's Military Operations Command launched the "Deterrence of Aggression" offensive against the Syrian government on 27 November 2024, re-capturing Saraqib, Abu al-Duhur, Maarat al-Numan, Khan Shaykhun and Kafr Nabl.

[37] The region forms a transitional zone between the forested mountains of the western littoral and the Syrian desert to the east.

[38] Idlib is the provincial capital; other major settlements include Abu al-Duhur, Al Hamdaniyah, Ariha, Harem, Jisr al-Shughur, Kafrsajna, Khan Shaykhun, Ma'arrat al-Nu'man, Salqin, Saraqib and Taftanaz.