<div>In Syria, a deadline passed today without jihadists leaving a planned buffer zone around last major rebel bastion of Idlib as set out under a Russian-Turkish deal.  </div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>The radical fighters were supposed to withdraw from the buffer as a final condition to implementing a Russian-Turkish deal to stave off a regime offensive on the northwestern region of Idlib.  </div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>The accord hung in the balance on the early hours of today, seven years into a grinding civil war that has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions.  </div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>Just hours before the cut-off time, Idlib's dominant jihadist group vowed to continue to fight but did not give a clear position on the deal reached in the Russia resort of Sochi. </div>''<div> </div>''<div>The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it had not observed any jihadists leaving the outlined demilitarised area by the time midnight struck.   <br />''</div>