UN envoy: 10,000 terrorists in Syria's Idlib do not justify offensive

The UN special envoy to Syria warned on Thursday that the presence of 10,000 al-Qaida-linked fighters in the country's rebel stronghold of Idlib did not justify an attack that could endanger the lives of 2.9 million civilians, amid fears of an imminent offensive.

"No one doubts that al-Nusra currently Hayat Tahrir al-Shamu and al-Qaida are terrorists ... and terrorists identified by the UN need to be defeated," Staffan de Mistura told reporters in Geneva.

But "the systematic use of indiscriminate weapons in populated areas amounts to war crimes," he said, voicing concerns over the possible use of chemical weapons in any upcoming battle over Idlib. "We are all aware that both the government and al-Nusra have the capability to produce weaponised chlorine, hence an increased concern by all of us," he said.

His comments come amid growing fears that the Syrian government and its Russian allies are planning a major military campaign on Idlib, the opposition's last key bastion in the war-torn country.

"It would be a tragic irony, frankly, if at almost the end of ... a territorial war inside Syria, we would be witnessing the most horrific tragedy to the largest number of civilians," he said.

De Mistura offered to go to Idlib himself to ensure civilians have safe humanitarian corridors to leave and warned against "a hurried escalation," which could lead to "the worst-case scenario" in Idlib.

Turkey has for weeks been engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent a Syrian government attack on Idlib along its border.

Turkey, Russia and Iran are set to hold a summit on Syria on 7 September in Tehran.

On Sunday, Russia accused rebels in Idlib of planning a chemical attack and then blaming it on the government troops.

Linda Tom of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Syria told journalists on Thursday that a major military operation in Idlib could displace as many as 800,000 people. In recent weeks, the Syrian government has enhanced its forces in the vicinity of Idlib in preparation for an onslaught on the province, according to monitors.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, reported on Thursday that tens of thousands of government loyalists and more than 2,000 armoured vehicles had been deployed to the neighbouring provinces of Hama, Latakia and Aleppo. The Britain-based watchdog also said the Syrian government has rounded up thousands of men to fight in the battle for Idlib.

Idlib is largely controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist alliance led by an al-Qaida-affiliated group. During the last three years, thousands of rebels and their families have been evacuated from different parts of Syria to Idlib under agreements with the government. 

Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said on Thursday that Syria's decision was to combat terrorist organisations in Idlib, "whatever the sacrifices were."

"We say that the priority is for the local reconciliations which we have carried out in several areas across Syria. We are ready to make every effort to avoid civilian casualties," al Moallem said after meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

"We and the Russian Federation have been partners in countering terrorism and have fulfilled great field achievements and we are now close to ending this terrorism," he added.    (dpa)