UN calls for prevention of full-scale attack on Idlib

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that it is "absolutely essential" to avoid a full-scale attack on Syria's Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in the country.

"(A full-scale attack) would unleash a humanitarian nightmare unlike any seen in the blood-soaked Syrian conflict," he said at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Almost half of Idlib's population of 2.9 million people had gone there to seek refuge from conflict elsewhere in Syria, including nearly 1 million children. Their lives have been upended and they have nowhere to go, he said.

"Idlib is the last so-called 'de-escalation zone' in Syria. It must not be transformed into a bloodbath."

Guterres reminded parties to the conflict of their obligations under international law to protect civilians.

"I understand that the present situation in Idlib is not sustainable and the presence of terrorist groups cannot be tolerated. But fighting terrorism does not absolve warring parties of their core obligations under international law," he said.

"I make a clear appeal to all parties directly and indirectly involved - and in particular the three guarantors of the de-escalation zone, namely Iran, Russia and Turkey: Spare no effort to find solutions that protect civilians. Preserve basic services such as hospitals. Ensure full respect for international humanitarian law."

Guterres made the appeal after the Security Council remained divided over Idlib on Tuesday.

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, issued a stern warning to the Syrian government, Russia and Iran over military operations in Idlib.

"We consider any assault on Idlib to be a reckless escalation of the conflict. If Syria, Russia and Iran continue down the path they are on, the consequences will be dire. The world will hold them responsible," she told the Security Council.

Russian and Syrian government forces have launched more than 100 airstrikes in Idlib this month, she said.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russian ambassador to the UN, argued at the same Security Council meeting that there is a need to fight terrorists in Idlib.

"We cannot allow terrorists to hold hostage and use hundreds of thousands of people as human shields," he told the Security Council. "It is unacceptable to spare terrorists."

Feridun Sinirlioglu, the Turkish ambassador to the UN, said Ankara is opposed to an assault on Idlib.

"In a complex place like Idlib, traditional counterterrorism methods would not yield the desired results. On the contrary, they would create further suffering, alienate and radicalize more Syrians. In this sense, a military operation in Idlib would only play into the hands of terrorists," he said.

Xinhua - Afp

(China Daily 09/13/2018 page11)