File photo: Protest in Idlib
France on Monday expressed "its concern about a possible major offensive by the Syrian regime and its allies" against the Syrian province of Idlib.
"Such an offensive would have disastrous consequences. It would engender a new major humanitarian and migratory catastrophe since it could directly threaten the 3 million civilians counted by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the region," the French foreign ministry said in a statement, calling on Russia and Turkey to help protect civilian populations.
Located near the Turkish border, Idlib has been designated as a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly forbidden as part of the ongoing Astana process.
Nevertheless, for the past two months, the area has been the target of particular fierce airstrikes by Russia and the Assad regime forces.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian earlier said "the risk of a chemical attack by the Syrian regime in Idlib cannot be ruled out."
He stressed that Paris is currently “looking for a solution [to the Syrian crisis] with Russia and Turkey."
The foreign ministry also cited President Emmanuel Macron's statement on Aug. 27 that his country "will continue to uphold its red lines on the use of chemical weapons and will be ready to act if the use of lethal weapons is proven".
"In any case, France will continue to mobilize with its partners to fight against the impunity for the use of chemical weapons and war crimes or crimes against humanity committed in Syria," read the statement.
"France therefore calls on Russia and Turkey to preserve the de-escalation of the violence they have guaranteed in this region, with the primary concern to protect civilian populations."
The ministry said France will "continue the close dialogue" with Russia and Turkey "as well as with the other main actors in the Syrian crisis, in order to bring about an inclusive, credible and sustainable political solution in Syria."
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif arrived in Damascus on Monday for talks ahead of a planned trilateral summit on war-torn Syria.The top diplomat was welcomed by Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad upon arrival at the airport.The visit comes amid preparations by Syrian regime forces and allies to attack the northwestern Idlib province, the last major opposition stronghold in Syria.“Al-Nusra and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group must be cleaned out of Idlib,” Zarif said in statements.According to Iran’s official IRNA news agency, Zarif will hold talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem later in the day.Israel may strike Iran targets outside Syria: LiebermanLocated near the Turkish border, Idlib has been designated as a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly forbidden as part of the ongoing Astana process.Nevertheless, for the past two months, the Idlib de-escalation zone has been the target of particular fierce airstrikes by Russia and Assad regime forces.A tripartite summit is scheduled to be in Iranian capital on September 7 to discuss the situation of resolving the 7-year conflict in Syria.Syria tripartite summit ‘step to peace’: IranThe summit, which will be held at the level of heads of state and foreign ministers, will be held as a follow-up to the Astana meeting held in Kazakhstan in mid-March.Iran and Shia group Hezbollah are strong allies of the Bashar al-Assad regime, whose forces have been fighting opposition groups in a deadly civil war since 2011.Since then, hundreds of thousands of people are believed to have been killed and millions more displaced by the conflict.‘US is preparing to strike over 20 regime positions in Syria’
Idlib must be ‘cleaned out of terrorists’: Iran FM
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday the situation in the opposition-held Syrian province of Idlib could not be tolerated indefinitely, RIA news agency reported.Speaking to university students in Moscow, Lavrov said the Syrian government, Russia's ally, had every right to wipe out the opposition in northern Idlib, Interfax news agency reported. In May, Idlib was designated a “de-escalation zone” -- in which acts of aggression are expressly forbidden -- as part of the ongoing Astana process.Nevertheless, for the past two months, Idlib has remained the target of fierce air bombardments by Russia and Assad regime forces.Iran foreign minister arrives in Damascus for talks with Syrian officials
Russia says situation in Syria's Idlib cannot be tolerated indefinitely
Turkey is on full alert in the Eastern Mediterranean with the launch of Russian military drills and U.S. destroyers equipped with Tomahawk missiles turning toward the region as an offensive in Syria’s last opposition-held stronghold of Idlib looms.The Russian defense ministry said that more than 25 warships and support vessels and around 30 planes, including fighter jets and strategic bombers, would take part in the Mediterranean drills which it said would last from Sept. 1 to Sept. 8.Upon these developments, Turkey, which previously had 10 warships in the region, dispatched several more naval vessels to the region, the exact number of which is unknown.Turkey has numerously expressed its objections to an Idlib offensive, saying it would lead to disaster, and is taking every precaution to protect its rights and interests in international waters.US sees assault on Idlib as escalation of Syria conflict: PompeoGermany warns of ‘catastrophe’ in Syria’s Idlib'Turkey essential to preventing bloodbath in Syria’s Idlib’U.S. aggression against SyriaAnatoly Antonov, Russia's ambassador to the United States, warned Washington on Thursday against what he called "groundless and illegal aggression against Syria." Antonov said he had told U.S. officials Moscow was concerned by signs that the United States was preparing new strikes on Syria.Warships at the readyThe U.S. and NATO allies such as the U.K. and France are keeping their navy ships in the Mediterranean on full alert. The Russian Defense Ministry said U.S. destroyers Karni and Ross will be ready to strike Syria within 24 hours. On Saturday, U.S. navy ship USNS Carson City T-EPF-7 reached the Mediterranean from the Dardanelles Strait. The U.S. had previously struck Syria by having warships deployed in the Mediterranean, Red Sea and the Basra Gulf fire missiles at Syrian regime targets. Though not directly linked to the developments in Idlib, Turkey’s ramped-up presence in the Mediterranean aims to prevent a fait accompli in Turkish waters with regards to issues of security and energy. Countries such as Russia, the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Israel, Egypt, Greece and Italy all maintain a navy presence in the Mediterranean.The United Nations has called on Russia, Iran and Turkey to delay a battle that could affect millions of civilians.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.Syria’s 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.
Turkish warships at the ready in East Med as Idlib battle looms
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said the United States views the Syrian regime military assault on opposition-held Idlib as an escalation of the Syrian conflict, as the State Department warned that Washington would respond to any chemical attack by Damascus.The Syrian province of Idlib and surrounding areas are the last major enclave held by those who oppose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a close Russian ally. A source has told Reuters Assad is preparing a phased offensive to regain the province."The U.S sees this as an escalation of an already dangerous conflict," Pompeo said in a post on Twitter in which he also blasted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for "defending (the) Syrian and Russian assault."'Turkey essential to preventing bloodbath in Syria’s Idlib’Lavrov said on Friday the Syrian government had every attack Idlib and that talks continued on establishing humanitarian corridors there.The State Department said the new U.S. special representative for Syria, James Jeffrey, would travel to Israel, Jordan, and Turkey from Saturday to Tuesday on his first official trip abroad.Jeffrey and his delegation will "underscore that the United States will respond to any chemical weapons attack perpetrated by the Syrian regime," the State Department said in a statement.Turkey to take concrete steps to protect Syria’s IdlibThey will also "address Russia’s specious allegations of international plans to stage a chemical weapons attack in Syria," the statement said.The United Nations on Thursday called on Russia, Iran and Turkey to forestall a battle in Idlib which would affect millions of civilians and could see both militants and the government potentially using chlorine as a chemical weapon.Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, speaking after talks with Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday, said government forces will "go all the way" in the opposition-held northern region of Idlib, but that they did not have and would not use chemical weapons. Turkey working to prevent 'disaster' in Syria: Erdoğan
US sees assault on Idlib as escalation of Syria conflict: Pompeo
Residents of Syria’s northwestern city of Idlib are calling on Turkey to help ensure their security amid fears of an imminent assault by the Assad regime.Gathering after Friday prayers, residents of different districts of Idlib and western Aleppo marched through the streets holding banners written in English, Turkish and Arabic.“We have no friends except Allah and the Turks,” one banner read. “Assad and his allies are terrorists; Turkey is a source of peace,” read another.In May, Idlib was designated a “de-escalation zone” -- in which acts of aggression are expressly forbidden -- as part of the ongoing Astana process.Nevertheless, for the past two months, Idlib has remained the target of fierce air bombardments by Russia and Assad regime forces.“Idlib is a microcosm of Syria,” Ahmed Firas Allush, head of Idlib’s opposition-run local council, told Anadolu Agency.“We have continued to resist here,” he said. “And we will continue to resist to the last drop of blood.”Allush called on Turkey not to abandon Idlib, Syria’s last major opposition stronghold.“We would support Turkey’s entrance into the region to take it under its protection,” demonstrator Ahmed Islam told Anadolu Agency.“Millions will flee if the regime launches an assault,” he said. “It would be a bloodbath.”Galeri: Residents of Syria’s Idlib look to Turkey for security“We reject claims that terrorists are in Idlib,” Allush added. “Only civilians and displaced people live here.”Basel Hawwa, another demonstrator, said the aim of Friday’s rally was to urge the international community to intervene on Idlib’s behalf to prevent a feared regime assault.“Idlib should come under Turkish control, just like Afrin and Jarabalus,” Hawwa asserted, referring to two other cities in northern Syria where Turkish troops have been deployed.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on protesters with unexpected ferocity.Germany warns of ‘catastrophe’ in Syria’s Idlib'Turkey essential to preventing bloodbath in Syria’s Idlib’Turkey to take concrete steps to protect Syria’s IdlibTurkish FM meets Syrian opposition head in Ankara
Residents of Syria’s Idlib look to Turkey for security