Syria: Donald Trump calls on Damascus, Moscow and Tehran to end the fighting in Idleb

"Do not do it !" Donald Trump called on Thursday, December 26, Moscow, Damascus and Tehran to stop killing civilians in Idleb province, in northwestern Syria, where these forces have intensified their strikes since mid-December.

"Russia, Syria and Iran are killing, or are about to kill, thousands of innocent civilians in the province of Idleb. Don't do it!" Launched the President of the United States on Twitter, saluting Turkey which "is working hard to stop this carnage".

Russia, Syria, and Iran are killing, or on their way to killing, thousands of innocent civilians in Idlib Province. Don't do it! Turkey is working hard to stop this carnage.

Since December 16, forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, supported by the Russian air force, have intensified their bombardments in this region and fierce ground battles oppose them to the jihadists and rebels, despite an announced cease-fire in August.

>> Read also: In Syria, violent clashes in Idleb despite the cease-fire

Eighty civilians killed in new escalation

Damascus has taken over forty villages, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH). About 80 civilians were killed in the new escalation, and tens of thousands have been displaced by the fighting of the past few days, often fleeing to the northern border with Turkey.

Ankara said Tuesday it is in talks with Moscow to secure a new ceasefire in Idleb, calling for an immediate end to the strikes. France also called for "immediate de-escalation", accusing Damascus and its Russian and Iranian allies of "worsening the humanitarian crisis".

The Idleb region is dominated by jihadists from the Hayat Tahrir al-Cham (HTS) group and other rebel movements. The regime, which now controls more than 70% of Syrian territory, has repeatedly said it is determined to reconquer Idleb. The Syrian army has called on civilians to evacuate areas held by the jihadists.

Donald Trump's appeal comes as Russia and China last week vetoed the Security Council over a year's extension of UN cross-border humanitarian aid to four million Syrians.

>> Read also: The UN appeal to avoid the worst humanitarian disaster of the 21st century in Idleb

"You have blood on your hands"

Washington said the veto was "shameful". "You have blood on your hands," had already accused the head of American diplomacy Mike Pompeo to the addresses of Moscow and Beijing.

The Syrian regime and Russia had already carried out a major offensive between April and August in the rebel stronghold of Idleb, killing a thousand civilians according to the OSDH, and causing the flight of 400,000 people according to the UN .

The conflict in Syria, sparked in 2011 by the suppression of pro-democracy protests by Damascus, has left more than 370,000 people dead and millions displaced and refugees.

With AFP

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