Militants preparing 'provocations' in Syria's Idlib: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin says militants are preparing provocations, including the use of chemical weapons, in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib.

Putin made the remarks in an address to a key trilateral summit, hosted by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and also attended by Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Tehran on Friday focusing on Syria.

The meeting is part of the Astana Peace Process for the Syrian crisis and was held as Syria is preparing for an operation to liberate Idlib Province, the last major militant stronghold.

Ankara, Moscow and Tehran are guarantors of the Astana process, a track of negotiations which have resulted in the return of a succession of militant bastions to the government fold and movement of civilians to safe zones.

"The remaining groups of extremists are currently concentrated in the de-escalation zone in the province of Idlib. Terrorists are making attempts to disrupt the ceasefire, moreover, they are carrying out and preparing various kinds of provocations, including the use of chemical weapons," the Russian president said.

He expressed hope that militants in Idlib would have the common sense to lay down their weapons and surrender.

He added that there were many civilians in Idlib and that any solution to the situation in the militant-held Syrian province should take them into account.

The Russian leader emphasized that Damascus has every right to take back all its territory.

"The legitimate Syrian government has a right and must eventually take under control all its national territory," Putin pointed out.

He pointed to the humanitarian aspects of the Syria crisis and the necessity to reconstruct the war-stricken country and said many people who had fled violence in Syria to other countries may now return to their homes.

"Conditions have been prepared in Syria to take in up to a million of refugees. The government has provided security guarantees to all returnees, assuring that they would not be subjected to discrimination, including in terms of property rights," he said.

He also expressed his opposition to a ceasefire in Idlib because members of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, and Daesh terrorists located there were not part of peace talks.

The Russian president also called for the improvement of coordination among Tehran, Moscow and Ankara on the situation in Damascus.

Meanwhile, speaking after talks with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts, the Russian president said that the main task was to get rid of militants in Idlib.

Putin said the talks had been constructive and that they had discussed "phased stabilization" of Syria's de-escalation zones.

Russia has also been providing air cover to Syrian army operations. It has also military advisors in the Arab country and runs a number of military bases there.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on August 31 that the Syrian troops have the full right to go after and hunt the terrorists out of the last stronghold of militants.

PressTV-Syria has right to chase terrorists out of Idlib: Russia

Russia says Syria has every right to chase terrorists out of Idlib in the upcoming offensive in the militant-held enclave.

Lavrov added that the Syrian army has every right “to protect its sovereignty and to drive out, liquidate the terrorist threat on its territory.”

Read more:

• Russia reinforces naval presence in Mediterranean ahead of Syria’s Idlib offensive: Reports

• Russia dismisses President Trump’s warning about offensive in Syria’s Idlib

• Russia says airstrikes hit terrorists not populated areas in Syria’s Idlib

Erdogan urges ceasefire in Idlib to avert 'bloodbath'

Speaking at the three-way summit, Turkish President Erdogan called for a ceasefire to prevent any "bloodbath" in Idlib

"If we can ensure a ceasefire here, this will be one of the most important steps of the summit, it will seriously put civilians at ease," Erdogan told the Tehran summit.

"We never want Idlib to turn into a bloodbath," he added.

He said: "Any attack launched or to be launched on Idlib will result in a disaster, massacre and a very big humanitarian tragedy."

The Turkish leader added that Idlib is "of vital importance not only for Syria's future but also for our national security, as well as peace and stability in the region."

He said Ankara can no longer afford to take in any more refugees from Syria, adding that steps would be taken to prevent further refugees from Syria.

Turkey has accepted 3.5 million refugees from Syria since the beginning of the seven-year war.

Earlier this month, the Turkish president warned against missile strikes during an upcoming military campaign by the Syrian army to liberate Idlib, saying a large-scale military action in the province would lead to a new wave of refugees toward Turkey.

PressTV-Erdogan warns against missile strikes on Syria's Idlib

Turkey's president has warned against missile strikes during a planned military campaign by the Syrian army to free Idlib from militant control.

“The situation in Idlib is crucial for Turkey. A ruthless process has been going on there. ... God forbid, if this area is hailed by missiles there would be a serious massacre,” Erdogan was quoted as saying by Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News.

Read more:

• Iran, Russia and Turkey keen to avoid battle in Syria's Idlib: UN
• Syria militants forming ‘army’ with Turkish support
• Turkey says working with Iran, Russia to avoid Idlib 'disaster'

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