Syria, where Russia plays a crucial role, will be one of the hot issues at the center of discussions between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, invited Monday, August 19 at Fort de Brégançon (Var), summer residence of Heads of State of the Fifth Republic.

French diplomacy on Friday called for the immediate cessation of hostilities in Idleb province in northwestern Syria, a target of near-daily bombing by the Damascus regime and its Russian ally. Paris condemned "in particular" the continuation of the air strikes against this last stronghold of the insurgents.

Since the end of April, President Bashar al-Assad's troops have intensified their bombing of the region, dominated largely by rebels and jihadists, including the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (former Front al-Nusra and former Syrian branch). Al Qaeda). More than 860 civilians were killed in these strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (OSDH), while more than 400,000 people have been displaced, according to the UN. In June, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the situation in the region as a "humanitarian disaster".

On Syria, the French president will ask his Russian counterpart "to use his influence" on his allies, according to the Elysee. France considers "very worrying" the situation in the province of Idleb, where the regime is on the offensive with Russian aviation. "We have a very simple message to the Russians: 'exercise your influence with Damascus so that this operation ceases'", indicates Paris, which fears at the same time a mass exodus and the dispersion of dangerous jihadist groups.

"Emmanuel Macron will tell the Russian president of his concern," said a French diplomat in the "Journal du Dimanche." We are very clear: the security and humanitarian risk is extremely heavy, including the chemical risk, on which the red line will be recalled. and maintained. "

"A new quadripartite summit (Russia-France-Germany-Turkey) may be mentioned" on this subject, has simply indicated the Kremlin.

The Syrian army one kilometer from the city of Khan Cheikhoun

On the ground, airstrikes have killed about 20 people in the last two days in areas of the province, OSDH and local activists reported on Saturday. In the village of Deïr Charki, an air raid killed seven people, including 3 children according to the agency AP, Saturday morning. The previous day, more air strikes against the village of Al Haas had killed 13 people.

Reuters quoted Ahmad al-Dbis, chief of security of the US-based Union of Relief and Medical Organizations (UOSSM) as supporting health care facilities in northwestern Syria. asserted that bombing was now taking place in populated areas where there is no military position.

Supported by Russian aviation, Syrian forces continued their advance towards the city of Khan Cheikhoun, located on the highway that runs through Idleb and connects Damascus to Aleppo (north), both controlled by the regime. They are now one kilometer west of the city, having taken control of several surrounding villages in recent days, said the OSDH.

The army took over Sunday the village of Tell al-Nar north-west of Khan Cheikhoun and approached the highway in question, said the same source. At least 26 rebels and jihadists and 11 members of pro-regime forces were killed in clashes on Saturday night, according to the OSDH.

An agreement was reached in September 2018 between Russia and Turkey, with the support of some rebel groups, to prevent Idleb from carrying out a major offensive by forces loyal to Damascus. The agreement provided for a "demilitarized zone" to separate the territories held by jihadists and rebels from government zones. But this one was only partially applied, the jihadists having refused to withdraw.

With AFP