Russia to brief UN Security Council on Tehran summit over Syria's Idlib

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Russia will brief the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday about the results of the Tehran summit it held with Iran and Turkey on the fate of Syria's Idlib province, diplomats said, amid reports of violence in northwest Syria, where more than 30,000 people have been displaced this month.

The Security Council will meet at Russia's request at 11:00 am (1500 GMT) to hear the briefing.

On Friday, the presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey failed to agree during the Tehran summit on how to stave off military action on the northwestern province. At a council meeting also on Friday, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia defended the military plans for Idlib, saying armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda were "a legitimate target for liquidation".

The United Nations has warned that a looming assault could create the century's "worst humanitarian catastrophe".

People who fled Syria's Idlib province are pictured at a camp in Kafr Lusin near the border with Turkey in the northern part of the province on Sept. 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

An estimated 30,452 people were displaced within Idlib and parts of adjacent Hama province between September 1 and 9, the UN's humanitarian coordination agency (OCHA) said.

On Tuesday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan warned that the Syrian government offensive would cause humanitarian and security risks for Turkey, Europe and beyond.

In an article in the Wall Street Journal, Erdogan also called on the international community to take action on Idlib, the last rebel enclave in Syria and warned that "the entire world stands to pay the price" otherwise.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters