Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow remained in contact with the United States on the situation in Syria's opposition-held Idlib province.
Russia said earlier on Wednesday it was discussing the situation there and in Syria's Afrin region with Iran and Turkey, as well as the Syrian government and opposition, the RIA news agency reported.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem will visit Moscow on Thursday ahead of Syrian peace talks in Geneva, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.Al-Muallem would discuss with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov the Geneva peace talks scheduled on Sept. 14, repatriation of the Syrian refugees, and "staged” chemical attacks in Idlib, the ministry said in a statement.Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in the conflict, according to the UN.Russia reinforces naval forces in Mediterranean off Syrian coastIran says to maintain military presence in Syria despite US pressureUN invites US and allies for Syria talks next month‘US seeks to strengthen presence in Syria by setting up missile defense shield’German chancellor, US president discuss Syria
Syrian foreign minister to visit Moscow on Thursday
The U.S. on Tuesday warned Russia and the Syrian regime against any potential offensive on the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib."We would hold them responsible and we would hold them accountable for that, most especially for the use of chemical weapons,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.“We would encourage Russia to make this point very clear to Damascus, that that will not be tolerated," she added.Russia reinforces naval forces in Mediterranean off Syrian coastTurkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu warned Friday that a possible military offensive on Idlib would be a "disaster".“Preserving the de-escalation zone in Idlib, Syria is important in both humanitarian respects and the fight against terrorism," Çavuşoğlu said.“Separating the civilians from the combatants in Idlib is important for everyone, but a solution through force would lead to a new wave of refugees and a humanitarian catastrophe.”Iran says to maintain military presence in Syria despite US pressureLocated near the Turkish border, Idlib in May was designated a “de-escalation zone” where acts of aggression are expressly forbidden.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on protesters with unexpected ferocity.UN officials estimate that hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict.
US warns Syria, Russia on possible Idlib offensive
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.‘US seeks to strengthen presence in Syria by setting up missile defense shield’Iran and Syria sign deal for military cooperationIran defence minister Amir Hatami arrives in SyriaTurkish forces neutralize two PKK terrorists
UN chief warns against military escalation in Syria