U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
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."
As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad prepares for an offensive against the last opposition-held stronghold of Idlib, Turkey holds a major responsibility in preventing bloodshed and is seen as a critical player that could ensure peace in the region.Speaking to Yeni Şafak daily, Idlib Provincial Assembly President Ghassan Hamo evaluated the recent situation in Syria and stressed that the only bloodless solution in Syria’s Idlib, where more than 4 million civilians live, was to implement Turkey’s formula.He also stressed that every initiative undertaken without Turkey may trigger fresh disasters in the region.“In such a case, everybody loses; Turkey is the only key for peace and stability in Idlib,” Hamo added.Idlib, located in northwestern Syria on the Turkish border, has faced intense attacks by the Bashar al-Assad regime after a vicious civil war broke out in 2011. Since March 2015, Idlib is no longer under the control of the Assad regime and has been overrun by opposition groups.In recent weeks, the Assad regime has dropped leaflets over Idlib province urging people to surrender, opened a route for civilians to cross into government territory and, according to a war monitor, sent ever more reinforcements to the front. It has stepped up air strikes and shelling near the front lines, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.Turkey to take concrete steps to protect Syria’s Idlib“Idlib locals won’t accept any solution without Turkey”“It is obvious what the Assad regime and Russia are doing in Aleppo, Ghouta, Homs and Daraa. We all know what they did to those civilians and armed fighters. We don’t trust Russia, Iran and the Assad regime in any way. Civilians in Idlib will not accept any solution that does not include Turkey,” Hamo said.Stressing Assad’s vicious chemical attacks in Syria, he stated, “The Assad regime carried out chemical attacks on Idlib’s Khan Sheikhoun province. It used chemical weapons twice in Ghouta and Douma. Independent international organizations reported more than 70 chemical attacks carried out by the regime. We have been informed that they have dispatched canisters in the Hama-Morek region.”The United Nations called on Russia, Iran and Turkey on Thursday to forestall a battle in Idlib which would affect millions of civilians and could see both terrorists and the government potentially using chlorine as a chemical weapon.Turkey working to prevent 'disaster' in Syria: ErdoğanSmear campaign against FSA seeks to eliminate it“Bashar Assad’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem visited Syria’s Lattakia last week. He said that their goal after Idlib is Turkey’s Hatay. More than 3,000 Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists deployed in the Hama region are waiting for a command to attack Idlib. Their aim is to siege Afrin and rejoin the Jarablus-Afrin line” he said.Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20, 2018 in Syria’s northwestern region of Afrin to eradicate the area of terrorists belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syrian offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), following Turkey’s seven-month Euphrates Shield Operation which succeeded in clearing large swathes of Syrian territory from Daesh.Additionally, during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday, al-Moualem said that government forces will “go all the way” in Idlib.“The Idlib issue does not pertain to Idlib alone. The main aim of the smear campaign conducted through the discourse of terror is to eliminate the Free Syrian Army entirely. However, the FSA is the backbone of Idlib.”“Turkish troops remain ‘heroes’, and Erdoğan remains to be ‘the hope of the oppressed’ in the hearts of the Syrians,” he concluded.Turkish forces are present at 12 points from Idlib's north to south, which are currently being fortified with cement walls and bulletproof watch towers against a regime attack.Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.
'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.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu spoke over the phone on Thursday about regional security and the latest developments in Syria.Following the call, Akar delivered statements regarding the situation in Syria's Idlib."Turkey strives for ensuring security, preventing attacks, and giving aid to nearly 3.5-4 million people in Syria's Idlib without violating the ceasefire,” he said. “Our aim is to ensure the implementation of what was determined during the Astana process, and to enable Syrians to return to their homes in peace,” he added.Located near the Turkish border, Idlib in May 2017 was designated as a de-escalation zone endorsed by Turkey, Russia and Iran 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.Turkey working to prevent 'disaster' in Syria: ErdoğanConstructive, positive talks with RussiaThe defense minister stated that he had a “very constructive and positive discussion” with Shoigu.Akar said that in the coming days, concrete steps would be taken to ensure Syria’s north, including Idlib, would become safe and secure.Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said on Thursday that regime forces will "go all the way" in the opposition-held northern region of Idlib after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.Turkey working to prevent Idlib disaster“The attacks of the [Syrian] regime, which has slaughtered over one million of its own people know no end. They are firing at Idlib, which hosts innocent people, in land and air attacks,” Akar said.“We are continuing our diplomatic and military communication in this regard. Turkey is working to prevent these attacks by taking precautionary measures and discussing the matter with the relevant states,” he added.Turkish, Russian ministers discuss regional securityPace of fight against terror to quicken“As a result of Operation Euphrates Shield, 3,000 Daesh terrorists were neutralized. We are the only state that came face to face with Daesh on the field. Others took up the struggle from the air. Afrin was cleared of terror elements thanks to Operation Olive Branch, and close to 5,000 terrorists were neutralized. The pace of our fight against terror will quicken in the coming days,” Akar said.The United Nations called on Russia, Iran and Turkey on Thursday to forestall a battle in Syria's Idlib province which would affect millions of civilians.Idlib and areas surrounding it are the last major enclave held by groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after he cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity in 2011, engulfing the country in a seven-year civil war.
Turkey to take concrete steps to protect Syria’s Idlib
They 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 is collaborating with Russia and Iran "to prevent an Aleppo-like disaster" in Syria's Idlib, said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday.“We are a nation that wins on the field not at the table. That is why at every opportunity we say that we should be present on the field, be strong in the field, and succeed at the field,” Erdoğan said, speaking at a Victory Day reception in capital Ankara.“This is how we destroyed the terror corridor along our borders with Syria.”Russia warns US against 'illegal aggression against Syria'His remarks come amid UN warnings of a planned operation by Syria regime forces in Idlib province that would lead to a "humanitarian disaster".Idlib falls within a network of de-escalation zones -- endorsed by Turkey, Russia and Iran -- in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.“By holding talks with Americans, we are looking to clear Manbij in Syria from terrorists,” he added.The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the city in order to stabilize the region.UN chief 'deeply concerned' by possible Idlib offensive
Turkey working to prevent 'disaster' in Syria: Erdoğan