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The Living Force
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned the West not to interfere in Syrian and Russian forces engaged in antiterror actions in the northwest province of Idlib: "I hope our Western partners will not give in to [rebel] provocations and will not obstruct an antiterror operation," he said
Thu, 08/30/2018 - Russian FM Lavrov Warns West "Don't Obstruct Anti-terror Ops" As Idlib Assault "Hours Away"
Russian FM Lavrov Warns West "Don't Obstruct Anti-terror Ops" As Idlib Assault "Hours Away"
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Lavrov has warned the West not to interfere in Syrian and Russian forces engaged in antiterror actions in the northwest province of Idlib: "I hope our Western partners will not give in to [rebel] provocations and will not obstruct an antiterror operation," he said.
This as Reuters reports that a planned "phased offensive" is imminent and as massive Syrian Army reinforcements and military convoys have been filmed this week heading toward the last major anti-Assad holdout.
Reuters reports based on Syrian pro-government allied sources:
Lavrov called Idlib a "festering abscess" that needed to be “liquidated” of terrorists and jihadists, according to reports.
"I hope our Western partners will not give in to [rebel] provocations and will not obstruct an antiterror operation," he said in comments made Wednesday.
Mention of "provocations" is a reference to Russian assertions this week that the al-Qaeda group that controls Idlib, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, is planning to stage a "chemical attack" incident in order to blame Syrian and Russian forces, in the hopes that the West will intervene militarily against Damascus.
Russia now says it has staged its largest naval build-up in the Mediterranean since its entry into the war at the invitation of Damascus in 2015.
Published on Aug 28, 2018 (1:00 min.)
More Syrian Armytroops were seen heading towards the frontline with Idlib province in north-western Syria, as they passed through Maar Shahour village in Hama Governorate, on Monday. Soldiers rode on top of lorries carrying tanks, artillery and armoured personnel carriers. An army officer said his troops were ready for the 'final battle' against militants in Idlib province.
Lavrov further mentioned Turkey in his Wednesday statements, saying Moscow was in contact with Turkey and the U.S. on the situation in Idlib, noting there is a "full political understanding" between Moscow and Ankara, though the Russian FM didn't provide details.
Meanwhile, NATO has confirmed the large Russian battleship and naval presence off Syria's coast, and has called on all external powers to exercise "restraint"; and a United Nations spokesman has warned that "up to 800,000 people could be displaced and that the number of people who are in need of humanitarian assistance."
In statements made on Tuesday the US State Department reiterated to reporters the United States "will respond to any verified chemical weapons use in Idlib or elsewhere in Syria ... in a swift and appropriate manner."
Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said further that senior U.S. officials have engaged with their Russian counterparts "to make this point very clear to Damascus" — that chemical weapons "will not be tolerated" — and could meet with massive military response. She also repeated that Assad would be held responsible.
Russian state sources on Wednesday cited the Russian Defense Ministry to say it has detailed intelligence confirming militants in Idlib are planning a chemical "provocation". Per RT News:
Analysts have predicted the Idlib campaign will be the bloodiest and longest grinding final battle of the war.
But what should by now be obvious to all is this: Assad, on the verge of total victory, has absolutely no incentive whatsoever to commit the one act that would ensure his own demise after emerging victorious after seven years of war.
Syria's Looming Final Battle: Idlib Escalation Reaching Climax
Published on Aug 30, 2018 (5:39 min.)
Things are heating up around the Syrian province of Idlib. Russia's fear of a false flag chemical attack is brushed aside in Washington. American war ships are patrolling the Syrian shores, while Russia announces it will hold war games in the Mediterranean. RT’s Yulia Shapovalova reports, former US Diplomat Jim Jatras offers analysis.
Syrian War Report – September 5, 2018: Israel Carries Out New Strike As Idlib Battle Looms
Published on Sep 5, 2018 (3:28 min.)
The Debate - Battle for Idlib
Published on Sep 4, 2018 (24:15 min.)
It seems US trying to get Al-Nusra off the hook in Idlib - Lavrov
Published on Sep 5, 2018 (3:43 min.)
US envoy to the United Nations Nikky Haley has accused Russia of being up to its usual tricks - with its recent warning about a chemical attack in Syria.
United Nations Full-Scale Military Attack must be Avoided in Syria’s Idlib: UN Negotiator
Full-Scale Military Attack must be Avoided in Syria’s Idlib: UN Negotiator Published on Sep 5, 2018 (38:53 min.)
United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura and his Special Advisor, Jan Egeland, speak to the press following the meeting of the Humanitarian Access Task Force.
OSE Syria - Media Stakeout: Humanitarian Access Task Force (Geneva, 4 September 2018)
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The UN’s top humanitarian advisor for Syria appealed for “sanity now at the end, hopefully, of this, the worst war of our generation” and said it was no way to “liberate a people or to save a city by crushing it with the civilians inside.”
Jan Egeland, the Special Advisor to the UN Special Envoy for Syria, told journalist in Geneva today (4 Sep) that intense humanitarian and political diplomacy on Idlib was ongoing. He added, “if it succeeds we will have hundreds of thousands of lives spared; if it fails in the next days and hours we could see a battle more cruel than any previous battle in this, the cruelest war of our generation.”
Egeland said he is looking to Russia, Turkey, Iran, and the western countries with influence on the parties to come with hope for civilians. He noted that there are more babies than terrorists in Idlib with over one million children in the area.
The Special advisor said hundreds of thousands of people fled to Idlib because it was considered safe as a recognized de-escalation zone by the Astana guarantors. He noted that it was possible to end fighting through talks in Idlib as was done in other places.
Egeland said the building of forces and the fortification inside Idlib signal that innocents would die at a much higher ratio than armed men in a war scenario, which would also endanger the humanitarian lifeline for some two million people.
Jan Egeland, Special Advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria:
“We are prepared now in our planning for war, but we pray there will be no war. We cannot have war in Idlib because it’s filled to the brim with the internally displaced, with civilians.”
The Special advisor appealed for “sanity” which would mean “not repeating eastern Aleppo, eastern Ghouta, and Ar-Raqa; it is no way to liberate a people or to save a city by crushing it with the civilians inside.” He said armed opposition groups destroyed bridges in the city which meant that civilians do not have freedom of movement.
Egeland said a humanitarian response plan has been launched for Idlib which calls for 310 million USD but the funds were not available adding that the current humanitarian operation was barely funded.
Thu, 08/30/2018 - Russian FM Lavrov Warns West "Don't Obstruct Anti-terror Ops" As Idlib Assault "Hours Away"
Russian FM Lavrov Warns West "Don't Obstruct Anti-terror Ops" As Idlib Assault "Hours Away"
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Lavrov has warned the West not to interfere in Syrian and Russian forces engaged in antiterror actions in the northwest province of Idlib: "I hope our Western partners will not give in to [rebel] provocations and will not obstruct an antiterror operation," he said.
This as Reuters reports that a planned "phased offensive" is imminent and as massive Syrian Army reinforcements and military convoys have been filmed this week heading toward the last major anti-Assad holdout.
Reuters reports based on Syrian pro-government allied sources:
The offensive would initially target southern and western parts of the insurgent territory, but not yet Idlib city, said the source, an official in the regional alliance backing Assad.
“The final touches for the first stage will be completed in the coming hours,” the official added, without saying when it would start.
Lavrov called Idlib a "festering abscess" that needed to be “liquidated” of terrorists and jihadists, according to reports.
"I hope our Western partners will not give in to [rebel] provocations and will not obstruct an antiterror operation," he said in comments made Wednesday.
Mention of "provocations" is a reference to Russian assertions this week that the al-Qaeda group that controls Idlib, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, is planning to stage a "chemical attack" incident in order to blame Syrian and Russian forces, in the hopes that the West will intervene militarily against Damascus.
Russia now says it has staged its largest naval build-up in the Mediterranean since its entry into the war at the invitation of Damascus in 2015.
More Syrian Armytroops were seen heading towards the frontline with Idlib province in north-western Syria, as they passed through Maar Shahour village in Hama Governorate, on Monday. Soldiers rode on top of lorries carrying tanks, artillery and armoured personnel carriers. An army officer said his troops were ready for the 'final battle' against militants in Idlib province.
Lavrov further mentioned Turkey in his Wednesday statements, saying Moscow was in contact with Turkey and the U.S. on the situation in Idlib, noting there is a "full political understanding" between Moscow and Ankara, though the Russian FM didn't provide details.
Meanwhile, NATO has confirmed the large Russian battleship and naval presence off Syria's coast, and has called on all external powers to exercise "restraint"; and a United Nations spokesman has warned that "up to 800,000 people could be displaced and that the number of people who are in need of humanitarian assistance."
In statements made on Tuesday the US State Department reiterated to reporters the United States "will respond to any verified chemical weapons use in Idlib or elsewhere in Syria ... in a swift and appropriate manner."
Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said further that senior U.S. officials have engaged with their Russian counterparts "to make this point very clear to Damascus" — that chemical weapons "will not be tolerated" — and could meet with massive military response. She also repeated that Assad would be held responsible.
Russian state sources on Wednesday cited the Russian Defense Ministry to say it has detailed intelligence confirming militants in Idlib are planning a chemical "provocation". Per RT News:
The Russian military has received information from several sources in Idlib Province that “a large supply of poisonous agents has been brought to the city of Saraqib on two trucks from the village of Afs,” Major-General Aleksey Tsygankov, head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria, said in a statement.
The chemicals were delivered to an arms depot, used by the militant group Ahrar al-Sham, “accompanied by the eight members of the White Helmets organization,” Tsygankov said, adding that the cargo was met by two high-ranked Ahrar al-Sham commanders.
Russia says that as Idlib's al-Qaeda groups face imminent defeat, they plan to stage an event to gain the attention of the West, which has already promised it will hit back at Syrian government positions.Analysts have predicted the Idlib campaign will be the bloodiest and longest grinding final battle of the war.
But what should by now be obvious to all is this: Assad, on the verge of total victory, has absolutely no incentive whatsoever to commit the one act that would ensure his own demise after emerging victorious after seven years of war.
Syria's Looming Final Battle: Idlib Escalation Reaching Climax
Things are heating up around the Syrian province of Idlib. Russia's fear of a false flag chemical attack is brushed aside in Washington. American war ships are patrolling the Syrian shores, while Russia announces it will hold war games in the Mediterranean. RT’s Yulia Shapovalova reports, former US Diplomat Jim Jatras offers analysis.
Syrian War Report – September 5, 2018: Israel Carries Out New Strike As Idlib Battle Looms
The Debate - Battle for Idlib
It seems US trying to get Al-Nusra off the hook in Idlib - Lavrov
US envoy to the United Nations Nikky Haley has accused Russia of being up to its usual tricks - with its recent warning about a chemical attack in Syria.
United Nations Full-Scale Military Attack must be Avoided in Syria’s Idlib: UN Negotiator
Full-Scale Military Attack must be Avoided in Syria’s Idlib: UN Negotiator Published on Sep 5, 2018 (38:53 min.)
United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura and his Special Advisor, Jan Egeland, speak to the press following the meeting of the Humanitarian Access Task Force.
OSE Syria - Media Stakeout: Humanitarian Access Task Force (Geneva, 4 September 2018)
----
The UN’s top humanitarian advisor for Syria appealed for “sanity now at the end, hopefully, of this, the worst war of our generation” and said it was no way to “liberate a people or to save a city by crushing it with the civilians inside.”
Jan Egeland, the Special Advisor to the UN Special Envoy for Syria, told journalist in Geneva today (4 Sep) that intense humanitarian and political diplomacy on Idlib was ongoing. He added, “if it succeeds we will have hundreds of thousands of lives spared; if it fails in the next days and hours we could see a battle more cruel than any previous battle in this, the cruelest war of our generation.”
Egeland said he is looking to Russia, Turkey, Iran, and the western countries with influence on the parties to come with hope for civilians. He noted that there are more babies than terrorists in Idlib with over one million children in the area.
The Special advisor said hundreds of thousands of people fled to Idlib because it was considered safe as a recognized de-escalation zone by the Astana guarantors. He noted that it was possible to end fighting through talks in Idlib as was done in other places.
Egeland said the building of forces and the fortification inside Idlib signal that innocents would die at a much higher ratio than armed men in a war scenario, which would also endanger the humanitarian lifeline for some two million people.
Jan Egeland, Special Advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria:
“We are prepared now in our planning for war, but we pray there will be no war. We cannot have war in Idlib because it’s filled to the brim with the internally displaced, with civilians.”
The Special advisor appealed for “sanity” which would mean “not repeating eastern Aleppo, eastern Ghouta, and Ar-Raqa; it is no way to liberate a people or to save a city by crushing it with the civilians inside.” He said armed opposition groups destroyed bridges in the city which meant that civilians do not have freedom of movement.
Egeland said a humanitarian response plan has been launched for Idlib which calls for 310 million USD but the funds were not available adding that the current humanitarian operation was barely funded.
- that war can start again at any time in Syria but there are some factors and conditions that need to be taken into consideration, that lessens the odds of another full scale war starting out in Syria - again.
