Response Coordinators: Russia’s hostile statements regarding Idlib pave the way for further military escalation
In a statement, the Syria Response Coordinators Group warned of the danger of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s recent statements, during which he described Idlib as a “terrorist area”, considering that it may be a prelude to further Russian escalation.
The “Response Coordinators” groupstated that it is following up on the continuous hostile statements by Russia and the continuous accusations of terrorism against the residents of northwestern Syria, pointing to the continued violations of the Assad regime and Russia of the ceasefire agreement in the region, and the increase in military escalation.
The group pointed out that since the beginning of September, the violations have amounted to 483, warning at the same time of indications that the Assad regime and Russia are seeking to restart military operations in the region and control new areas.
The team condemned the “continued hostile statements by Russia, which are considered a nucleus for launching new military operations in the region,” while warning that the region is unable to absorb the continuous waves of displacement, calling for preventing the recurrence of military operations by the forces of the Assad regime and Russia in the region.
The statement explained that thousands of civilians displaced from the areas of Idlib and Aleppo countryside are unable to return to their homes due to the Assad regime’s control of their villages and towns, in addition to the continued violations of the ceasefire on a daily basis, which prevents the residents of those villages and towns from returning.
The statement pointed out that Russia’s showing northern Syria as a “terrorist outpost” and focusing on what it called “terrorist organizations” is a “useless” attempt that Moscow has implemented in all the previous de-escalation zones and took control of those areas under those pretexts.
The group called on the international community to take all necessary measures to prevent Russia from engaging in hostilities and committing massacres in the areas of northern Syria.
Lavrov had said in a statement last Saturday, that there is “one terrorist outpost remaining in Syria, which is Idlib, and there is no problem in combating terrorism there,” days before a meeting between the Turkish and Russian presidents, in which the Idlib file will be the most prominent interlocutor.
