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The UN Security Council (UNSC) will discuss developments in Idlib, Syria on Tuesday, as well last week’s summit in Tehran between the presidents of Turkey, Russia and Iran.
The Syrian regime recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in the area, which has long been controlled by various armed opposition groups.
The UN warned last week that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".
The U.K. is extremely concerned of the escalating military action by Russia and the Syrian regime, putting at risk almost 3 million civilians in Idlib and its surrounding areas, the British minister of state for the Middle East said Monday.Underlining that dozens of Russian and regime airstrikes hit three hospitals, two centers of White Helmet rescue workers and an ambulance over the weekend, Alistair Burt said: “The medical facilities and aid workers must be protected.”Responding to a question at the House of Commons, he said the U.K. supports "the urgent diplomatic efforts being made by Turkey and the UN".Burt said the U.K. officials have held contacts with Turkish counterparts on the continued efforts, adding that "it is deeply disappointing that Russia and Iran rejected President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s calls for a renewed cease-fire" at the Tehran Summit last Friday.Erdoğan urges global community to avert Idlib assault“Russia and Iran also rejected similar calls from the U.K. and others at the UN Security Council on the same day,” Burt added.“We urged them [Russia and Iran] to reconsider and instead to find a negotiated way forward to avoid an entirely man-made disaster,” Burt said.Burt said Russia continued its military cooperation with the Assad regime despite their atrocities including the use of chemical weapons, and its blockage of an Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons mechanism to work in the country.He highlighted that more than 3.9 civilians lived in Idlib with only a few pockets of terrorists.Turkey wants to maintain cease-fire in IdlibAt least 17 people were wounded on Monday by airstrikes carried out by regime and Russian warplanes in Idlib and Hama provinces in northern Syria.According to White Helmets, a local civil defense agency, at least 29 civilians have been killed and dozens injured in airstrikes and attacks by regime forces and Russian warplanes in Idlib and Hama since the beginning of this month.The Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in the area, which has long been controlled by various armed opposition groups.The UN warned last week that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".A trilateral summit of the presidents of Turkey, Russia and Iran last week underlined that “there could be no military solution to the Syrian conflict" and called for advancing the political process to reach a negotiated solution.
UK extremely concerned over escalating action in Idlib
A trilateral summit between the presidents of Turkey, Russia and Iran underlined that “there could be no military solution to the Syrian conflict" and called for advancing the political process to reach a negotiated solution.
The UNSC is an executive body of the United Nations capable of passing legally binding resolutions on international issues relevant to international peace and security.
Russia requested the meeting of the 15-member council, which is to convene at 11 a.m. (1500GMT), UN diplomatic sources said Monday.
Turkey’s president on Monday urged the international community to be aware of its responsibilities in Syria as an assault on Idlib looms.Recep Tayyip Erdoğan evaluated the latest developments in northwestern Idlib province and Turkey’s position on the matter in an article he wrote for the U.S. daily The Wall Street Journal.“All members of the international community must understand their responsibilities as the assault on Idlib looms. The consequences of inaction are immense,” Erdoğan said in the article titled ‘The World Must Stop Assad’.Erdoğan also said the Syrian people could not be left to the mercy of the Bashar al-Assad regime.Turkey wants to maintain cease-fire in Idlib“A regime assault [in Idlib] would also create serious humanitarian and security risks for Turkey, the rest of Europe and beyond,” he added.He recalled the regime's criminal acts --arbitrary arrests, systematic torture, summary executions, barrel bombs, chemical and conventional weapons -- which targeted the Syrian people for seven years."As a result of the Syrian civil war, which the United Nations Human Rights Council calls ‘the worst man-made disaster since World War II’, millions of innocent people have become refugees or have been internally displaced," he said.He also recalled Turkey's role in protecting the Syrian people, as it hosts the largest number of refugees in the world, at 3.5 million.UN warns 30,000 already displaced from Syria's IdlibErdoğan said despite being the target of terror groups Daesh and the PKK, Turkey did not lose its resolve to help Syrians."We have brought the Syrian opposition to the negotiating table in Geneva and launched the Astana process alongside Russia and Iran," he said, adding Turkey consequently managed “to broker ceasefires, create de-escalation zones and evacuate civilians from areas under regime attack".Assad regime to launch massive offensiveErdoğan warned that the Assad regime was preparing to launch "a massive offensive against Idlib" where some 3 million people live and is one of the few safe havens for internally displaced Syrians."In an attempt to prevent the assault, my government contributed to the creation of a deconfliction zone and set up 12 observation posts to document and report ceasefire violations," he said.Stating that the Syrian regime was trying to legitimize its possible attack on the pretext of counterterrorism, Erdoğan said no country would appreciate the need to combat terrorism better than Turkey, as it has been the target of terrorist attacks since the beginning of the Syrian conflict.Erdoğan said the U.S., which is focused on chemical attacks by the Assad regime, needed to “reject its arbitrary hierarchy of death”.“Conventional weapons are responsible for far more deaths,” he said.He also said that stopping the “next bloodshed” in Syria was not only the West’s obligation, but Turkey’s partners in the Astana peace process -- Russia and Iran -- were also responsible for preventing a “humanitarian disaster”.Erdoğan called for “a more comprehensive international counterterrorism operation” to eradicate terrorists and extremists in Idlib, stating that certain designated terrorist groups were active in the area."Idlib is the last exit before the toll. If the international community, including Europe and the U.S., fail to take action now, not only innocent Syrians but the entire world stands to pay the price."Turkey has done everything in its power to stop the bloodshed next door. To ensure that we succeed, the rest of the world must set aside narrow self-interest and throw its weight behind a political solution," he said.The Syrian regime recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in Idlib, which has long been controlled by various armed opposition groups.The UN warned last week that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".Located near the Turkish border, Idlib is home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.On Friday, Erdoğan called for a ceasefire in Idlib during a tripartite summit in Tehran with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Erdoğan urges global community to avert Idlib assault
Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Monday the country's most important aim in Idlib, Syria is to stop land and air attacks and establish a cease-fire and stability.Answering questions from reporters in the capital, Ankara, during Afghanistan's National Day reception, Akar said Turkey "wants the absolute cease-fire to be maintained" which was planned within the scope of the Astana peace process brokered by Turkey, Russia and Iran."If the cease-fire is not maintained, then civilians, children and elderly people would suffer the most in case of an attack," Akar said."Our most important aim is to maintain cease-fire and stability in the region," he said.At least 17 people were wounded Monday by airstrikes carried out by the Assad regime and Russian warplanes on Idlib and Hama provinces in northern Syria.Since the beginning of the month, at least 29 civilians have been killed and dozens injured in airstrikes and attacks by regime forces and Russian warplanes in Idlib and Hama, according to the White Helmets, a local civil defense agency.The Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in Idlib, which has long been controlled by various armed opposition groups.The UN warned last week that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".Located near the Turkish border, Idlib is home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a cease-fire in Idlib during a tripartite summit in Tehran with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Russia's President Vladimir Putin.- Akar's comments on returned Turkish soldiersAsked to comment on Greece returning two Turkish soldiers Sunday after they crossed to the Greek side of the border by mistake, Akar said "positive and constructive attitude by the two countries gave out a good example of the neighbor relations.""There is an effort going on to prevent illegal crossing between two countries. During those efforts, an incident happened. After our phone conversations with Greece Defense Minister Mr. [Panos] Kammenos, our two soldiers were returned to us," Akar said, thanking those who contributed.Greece allowed two Turkish soldiers to return after they were held, when they crossed to the Greek side of the border, the Chief of General Staff said in a statement.The statement said the soldiers were chasing irregular migrants when they crossed the border by mistake.The soldiers were held by Greek patrol units at 11 a.m. (GMT0800), the statement said.It added the soldiers were returned to Turkey at around 6.30 p.m. (GMT1530) after the Turkish side held talks with Greek authorities.EU warns against military offensive in SyriaMore than 30,000 displaced in Syria's Idlib in latest offensiveUK lawmakers: Preventing atrocities in Idlib 'urgent'Turkish agency launches aid campaign for Syria’s IdlibUN voices concern over military operations in IdlibTurkish minister warns of mass migration from Idlib
Turkey wants to maintain cease-fire in Idlib