Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres
Military escalation in northwestern Syria will lead to catastrophic consequences for civilians, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday, amid signs of an imminent offensive by regime forces on an opposition-held province.
Guterres stressed in a report to the UN Security Council that an increase in military activity could trigger massive population movements in the country and leave residents of the region with severely limit access to humanitarian assistance and basic services.
His statement came as the UN warned of a planned operation by regime forces in Idlib province that would lead to a "humanitarian disaster".
Guterres emphasized that military activity is a "worrying trend", especially in northwestern Syria, "where some 3 million Syrians continue to reside".
"I reiterate that the perpetrators of serious violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable. Such a step is central to achieving sustainable peace in the Syrian Arab Republic. I also reiterate my call for the situation in the country to be referred to the International Criminal Court," he said.
Guterres called on all sides to avoid bloodshed and to "abide by the de-escalation agreement" and said that all parties in the conflict must adhere to international humanitarian law and protect civilians.
"There can be only one agenda for us all: to end the suffering of the Syrian people and to find a sustainable solution to the conflict in the country through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people."
Up to 2 million people who have been displaced across Syria came to northwest Syria to take refuge, but there have already been at least 37 attacks on health facilities in the Idlib region so far this year and civilians, aid workers and medical staff fear for their safety, according to the British government.
Syria’s brutal seven-year-long civil war has cost an estimated 400,000 lives, displaced more than 11 million people and led to a severe shortage of food, clean water and healthcare.
The Washington administration, which intends to maintain a permanent presence in Syria, has completed the construction of three advanced radar systems in Syria’s Hasakah-Tal Baidar countryside along with the Ayn al-Arab and Sarrin regions, and has set up 13 portable and fixed observation-intelligence radar systems.Speaking to Yeni Şafak daily, former Commander of Syria's Deir Ezzor Military Assembly Fayez al-Esmer evaluated the U.S.’s latest moves in Syria and said that in an addition to all attempts to protect Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists in the region, Pentagon is in preparation to set up a missile defense shield in Syria’s Hasakah and Rmeilan.“The U.S.’s next step is to build a missile defense shield in the region which must be considered as a part of Washington’s long-term plan for chaos in the region,” he said.The U.S. has already begun to create a new no-fly-zone in northern Syria, the same tactic used in the 1991 occupation of Iraq, and started to install advanced radar systems in a 26,000 square kilometer area occupied by the Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the PYD, east of the Euphrates. US sets up radars in northern Syria to ‘protect PKK terrorists’Alternatives to Incirlik Air Base Additionally, the U.S administration is looking for alternatives to Incirlik Air Base because of its current strained relationship with Turkey.Incirlik Air base was used during the defeated 15 July coup attempt to aid terrorists of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) as well as to provide logistics support to Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Syria.U.S. warplanes at Incirlik Air Base were moved to other bases, and only cargo planes, refueling aircraft, and scout planes remain.Lately, the U.S. is converting its bases into aerial operation centers in Iraq’s Al Asad, Ayn al-Asad, Qayyarah, as well as those in Rimeylan, Ayn el Arab, Tal Baidar and Sarrin in Syria.Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively. They will monitor Turkey from the border Stressing Pentagon’s lengthy plan for chaos in the region, al-Esmer said that all these steps indicate that the U.S. administration intends to strengthen its presence in Syria while providing support to PKK terrorists.The advanced radar systems will especially be used to monitor Turkey’s air and ground operations at the border, he added.Esmer also said that U.S. warplanes will be more active in the regions of Hasakah, Raqqa and Deir ez-zor and that information received from these points will be transferred to the air forces to create a protection shield.He stressed that all these initiatives must be considered as moves to “intimidate” Turkey, Russia and Iran.Russia and Turkey, along with Iran are sponsoring the Astana peace talks, which focuses on a cease-fire and ending the seven-year civil war in Syria.“The Washington administration has realized that the PKK is insufficient regarding its plans related to east of the Euphrates. Therefore, it will further fortify its military presence in the region. On the other hand, U.S. activities carried out in Syria and Iraq is due to its determination to exploit underground resources,” Esmer added.The U.S has supplied the PYD terror organization and its armed wing, the YPG, with more than 5,000 truckloads of weapons to allegedly use in the fight against Daesh, despite Ankara’s warnings that the fact they are the Syrian offshoots of the PKK terror organization.Russia says sees signs US preparing for possible strike on Syria836 detainees die in Syrian regime prisons: NGODriven from home, White Helmet rescuers start over in north SyriaIran and Syria sign deal for military cooperation
‘US seeks to strengthen presence in Syria by setting up missile defense shield’
Iran and Syria signed a deal for military cooperation in a meeting between the defence ministers of the two countries in Damascus, the Tasnim news agency reported on Monday.Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami travelled to Damascus on Sunday for a two-day visit, meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and senior military officials, Tasnim reported.Iran foreign minister hails relations with TurkeyIran defence minister Amir Hatami arrives in SyriaIranian forces have backed Assad in the country’s civil war.Tasnim did not provide any details about the military cooperation deal.U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said last week that Iran should remove its forces from Syria.Senior Iranian officials have said their military presence in Syria is at the invitation of the Assad regime and they have no immediate plans to withdraw.
Iran and Syria sign deal for military cooperation
Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami arrived in Syria on Sunday for meetings with "senior defence and military officials" according to the Tasnim news agency.Iranian forces have backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil war."We hope to have a productive role in the reconstruction of Syria," Hatami said on arrival in Syria, according to Fars News.U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said last week that Iran should remove its forces from Syria.Senior Iranian officials have said their military presence in Syria is at the invitation of the Assad government and they have no immediate plans to withdraw.More than 1,000 Iranians, including senior members of the elite Revolutionary Guards, have been killed in Syria since 2012.Ten killed in boiler explosion in IranMashhad hosts conference on Iran/Iraq/Syria cooperationUN invites Iran, Russia, Turkey to talks on Syria next monthMillions in rural Iran lack social securityEU agrees 18 mln euro development aid for Iran
Iran defence minister Amir Hatami arrives in Syria
Turkish forces “neutralized” two PKK terrorists during anti-terror operations in eastern Turkey, the military said on Saturday.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.The terrorists were neutralized in an air-backed operation on eastern Ağrı province, the General Staff said on its official Twitter account.According to the provincial governor’s office, they were neutralized in rural Dogubayazit area on Friday. Local gendarmes were part of the counter-terror operation.In its more than 30-year terrorist campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women and children.Suspected PKK terrorist arrested in western TurkeyTurkey, US conduct 35th round of patrols in ManbijTurkey remembers martyrs of Operation Euphrates ShieldMilitary solution in Syria’s Idlib would be ‘disaster’: Turkish FMTurkish jets ‘neutralize’ PKK terrorists in N.Iraq
Turkish forces neutralize two PKK terrorists