Russia to brief UN Security Council on Syria’s Idlib

Russia has requested to brief the UN Security Council on the results of the Tehran summit between Russia, Iran and Turkey on the fate of Syria’s Idlib province, diplomats said on Monday.

The council is expected to meet on Tuesday at 11am to hear the briefing as Syrian forces, backed by Russia and Iran, were preparing for an all-out military assault on the rebel-held province.

The United Nations has warned of a major humanitarian catastrophe if the offensive takes place in the enclave where some 3 million people live — about half of whom have already been displaced in the seven-year war.

On Friday, the presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey failed to agree during the Tehran summit on how to stave off military action in the north-western province.

At a council meeting 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 States, Britain and France fear mass casualties among civilians during the assault on Syria’s last major rebel bastion.

The Russian mission to the United Nations said in an e-mail seen by AFP that the public meeting would be to “brief council members on the results” of the Tehran summit of the so-called Astana guarantors.

The three countries last year set up the Astana process, a negotiating track to end Syria’s war that has largely eclipsed the UN-led peace process.