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TEHRAN, Iran – The latest talks on Syria in Iran (all local times):
23:30.
The US envoy to Syria said the "signals" of the Tehran meeting of the Iranian, Russian and Turkish presidents indicated that they intended to continue discussing to avoid a potential catastrophe in Idlib held by rebels.
Staffan De Mistura intervened for the second time at the end of a Security Council meeting on Friday, saying that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would have put "substantial" ideas on the table, which the United States does not have. still seen and will be examined.
De Mistura said that he wanted to come up with an idea of civil society on a key issue in Idlib: how to separate the groups identified by the UN as "terrorists" – including the Al Qaeda-related group of groups that are not terrorists and can be "reconciled" with the civilian population.
Ideally, he said, "all militants and fighters should have a deadline to move their own military presence" and bases away from populated areas and villages, which would remain under the control of civilian city councils and the local government. police.
At the same time, said De Mistura, a media campaign should be launched to announce that this is what is being asked of the armed groups.
He said that Russia and Turkey, in particular, but also Iran, should be the guarantors of the plan and should ask the combatants to put an end to all air and ground attacks against any population center.
"Otherwise, it would all seem futile," De Mistura said.
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9:40 p.m.
Syria's pro-government media reported that nine civilians were killed by shells fired from rebel areas in southern Idlib province, in a government-controlled city.
Syrian news agency SANA said it was killed when the missiles hit a residential area in Mhardeh town in the northern Hama countryside. Hama is south of Idlib and many of its villages and towns remain under rebel control.
According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, fighter planes, including suspected Russians, struck rebel areas in northern and southern Idlib on Friday, killing at least five people, including a civilian.
The violence comes the day the Iranian, Turkish and Russian presidents meet to discuss the fate of the last rebel stronghold in Idlib and around Hama.
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21:30.
The US director of humanitarian operations warns that if a military offensive takes place in Idlib and millions of people start fleeing, aid operations to help them will be overwhelmed.
John Ging told the United States Security Council on Friday that his worst case scenario was "likely to create a humanitarian emergency on a scale still unknown during this crisis," which is now in its eighth year.
He urged Council members to urge the parties to cease hostilities in the Idlib de-escalation zone, which includes parts of the governorates of Idlib, Aleppo, Latakia and Hama, and about 3 million people, about 2.1 million already in need of humanitarian assistance.
Ging also called for the protection of civilians, humanitarian and medical personnel, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure, as well as freedom of movement, access to help and increased funding.
Donors, including Britain and Germany, have recently provided resources, he added, but the United States is still "behind the $ 311 million estimated to be needed to increase violence.
Ging said that humanitarian aid is being prepositioned in Idlib and surrounding areas, and that "plans are in place to help up to 900,000 women, children, and men likely to be affected." be affected by a conflict.
He warned that if millions of people were fleeing Idlib, it would "saturate the ability to respond, regardless of the plans or funding available."
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9:20 p.m.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday after a trilateral meeting between Iran, Russia and Turkey to discuss the war in Syria.
In the report released Friday on the leader's website, Khamenei.ir, he said the United States was concerned about forming an "Islamic authority."
"America is concerned about the cooperation of Islamic countries and the formation of an Islamic authority," Khamenei said.
Khamenei added that this fear underlies America's hostility towards Islamic countries, according to the report.
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8:50 p.m.
The US ambassador to the United States warns Syria and its allies, Russia and Iran, that "the consequences will be disastrous" for an attack on the last major bastion of Syrian rebels in Idlib.
Nikki Haley told the US Security Council on Friday that an offensive against Idlib is being launched despite warnings from President Donald Trump and other world leaders, including Russian and Syrian airstrikes against civilian areas.
"The United States has been very clear with Russia and with the wider international community: we believe that any attack on Idlib is a dangerous escalation of the conflict in Syria," Haley said.
"If (Syrian President Bashar) Assad, Russia and Iran continue, the consequences will be disastrous," she said.
Haley said Syria must end its offensive and that Russia and Iran have the power to prevent "this catastrophe".
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8:05 p.m.
Eight aid agencies have called on world leaders to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib province, northwestern Syria, where the Syrian government is threatening a military offensive.
The agencies called on the Iranian, Russian and Turkish leaders meeting in Tehran and the members of the UN Security Council meeting in New York to work together to find a diplomatic solution that can protect civilians and aid workers. overpopulated province and its surroundings.
More than 3 million people live in and around Idlib, many of whom are already displaced by conflict elsewhere in Syria.
Agencies, including CARE, Mercy Corps and the International Rescue Committee, have said the "most vulnerable" are likely to pay the highest price in the event of an offensive. They said the humanitarian workers working in Idlib were already overwhelmed trying to meet the basic needs of the people of the province, which has doubled in recent months because it hosts displaced citizens from all over Syria.
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7:50 p.m.
The UN envoy for Syria says that we must give a chance to any proposal to prevent Idlib from becoming "the greatest humanitarian tragedy at the end of the most horrific conflict of our memory". He has some ideas for separating "terrorists" from civilians.
Staffan De Mistura also calls for "protected volunteer evacuation routes" for civilians if they want to leave Idlib.
He told the US Security Council on Friday that a military offensive on Idlib "is taking place at exactly the same time as there are serious discussions" on the establishment of a committee to develop a new Syrian constitution and encourage return of Syrian refugees.
De Mistura said that these are incompatible.
"Either we are trying to find a political way to end this war and move on to a postwar political scenario or we will see this war reach new levels of horror."
He said that is why the Friday meeting of the leaders of Russia, Iran and Turkey in Tehran is so important and why he will meet the three countries in Geneva on Monday and next Tuesday and Friday with Egypt, France, Germany, Arabia, Britain and the United States.
It would be a failure of diplomacy "if with these efforts, we have simply seen an increase in military activities," De Mistura said.
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5:45 p.m.
The Turkish president said his country does not have the "strength or capacity" to host millions of other refugees from Idlib.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that a call to terrorist groups in Idlib to lay down their weapons was a strong message and would help stop the flow of refugees.
"We must take joint measures to prevent migration, we must succeed in the fight against terrorism," said Erdogan.
"Turkey is already home to 3.5 million refugees (from Syria). The population of Idlib is 3 and a half million. Turkey does not have the strength or the capacity to accommodate 3 and a half million others, "he added.
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5:20 p.m.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was "unacceptable" to use civilians as a pretext to protect "terrorists" from rebel-controlled Syrian Idlib.
Speaking at the end of a trilateral summit with Iranian and Turkish leaders, Putin said Russia was worrying civilians in Idlib, but that Russia felt "unacceptable" "the use of civilians to" protect terrorists ".
Russia has been one of the main supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad and has expressed support for Assad to regain control of Idlib, the last stronghold of the opposition.
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4:35 p.m.
Turkish President calls for a ceasefire and an end to airstrikes as part of an imminent campaign for the Syrian province of Idlib.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the remarks Friday during a trilateral meeting between Iran, Russia and Turkey in Tehran.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said: "We must force the United States to leave" Syria.
Rouhani did not elaborate on the comment he made while talking about Idlib. America has some 2,000 soldiers in Syria.
Friday's summit could determine whether diplomacy halts any military action before a planned offensive against the northwestern province of Syria.
The province of Idlib and its environs are home to about 3 million people, nearly half of whom are civilians displaced from other parts of Syria. It also includes about 10,000 intransigent fighters, including Al Qaeda-linked militants.
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4:15 p.m.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the fight in Syria should continue until all extremists are "uprooted", especially in Idlib.
Rouhani made the comment Friday at a trilateral summit between Iran, Russia and Turkey held in Tehran.
The summit could determine whether diplomacy halts all military action before a planned offensive against the northwestern province of Syria.
The province of Idlib and its environs are home to about 3 million people, nearly half of whom are civilians displaced from other parts of Syria. It also includes about 10,000 intransigent fighters, including Al Qaeda-linked militants.
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4:10 p.m.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the US intervention in Syria should stop immediately.
Rouhani made the comment Friday at a trilateral summit between Iran, Russia and Turkey held in Tehran.
Rouhani also said that "the fires of war and the bloodshed in Syria are coming to an end".
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3:40 p.m.
The Iranian, Russian and Turkish presidents have started a summit on Syria as a bloody offensive is taking place in Idlib province, despite warnings from the United States and other countries not to launch the attack.
The summit Friday between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could determine whether diplomacy will stop all military action in anticipation of an offensive against the northwestern province of Syria.
The province of Idlib and its environs are home to about 3 million people, nearly half of whom are civilians displaced from other parts of Syria. It also includes about 10,000 intransigent fighters, including Al Qaeda-linked militants.
Iran, Russia and Turkey all have their own competing interests over Syria. All are also under US sanctions under the administration of President Donald Trump.
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15:30.
Residents of the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib are organizing mass rallies in the rebels' last stronghold to protest an imminent government offensive and chanting the country's president, Bashar Assad.
Friday's rallies took place as the Iranian, Turkish and Russian presidents meet in Tehran to discuss the war in Syria. The summit could determine whether diplomacy stops all military action in Idlib and its environs, where more than 3 million people live. Nearly half of the region's residents are already displaced from other parts of Syria and have refused to reconcile with the Syrian government. The region also includes opposition fighters and some of the most radical groups in Syria.
"Go, leave Bashar!", Hundreds of protesters sang in Saraqeb, a city in East Idlib. "We will defend our revolution."
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2:20 p.m.
A spokesman for a Syrian rebel alliance says that the least the summit of the Iranian capital can do is avoid a humanitarian crisis in the last stronghold of the opposition in northwestern Syria.
Naji al-Mustafa, spokesman for the National Front for Liberation, supported by Turkey, said Friday that his fighters were ready for the battle. But they are expecting a major humanitarian crisis, a major wave of displacement and a lot of destruction and death if a Russian-backed offensive unfolds.
Idlib and its surroundings are home to more than 3 million people, nearly half of whom are already displaced from other parts of Syria.
Al-Mustafa said his rebel alliance was turning to Turkey's efforts to prevent the attack and "protect Idlib". Turkey has deployed 12 observation points and hundreds of fighters separating the government and allied fighters. climbing agreement with Russia and Iran.
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1:55 p.m.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan both arrived in Tehran for a trilateral summit on Syria.
Both presidents landed at the Mehrabad International Airport.
They will attend the summit with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
The summit could determine whether diplomacy halts any military action before a planned offensive against northwestern Idlib province in Syria.
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1:25 p.m.
Activists and locals say that fighter planes hit areas on the southern edge of the Syrian province of Idlib, the last stronghold of the rebels, killing one and causing loud explosions and large smoke.
Friday's airstrikes took place a few hours before the Iranian, Russian and Turkish presidents meet in Tehran to discuss the war in Syria, with all hopes of a possible military offensive to resume the stronghold of 39; Idlib.
Rami Abdurrahman, head of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said a series of air strikes struck a few villages in southwestern Idlib and along the border with Iraq. province of Hama. Abdurrahman said suspected Russian warplanes carried out air strikes.
The province of Idlib and its surroundings shelter more than 3 million people.
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12:55
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman described a Syria summit between Iran, Turkey and Russia as "an inestimable opportunity."
Bahram Ghasemi wrote Friday an opinion piece published in the Iranian media that the Tehran summit is helping all nations "to face similar challenges and joint threats from foreign powers".
Ghasemi wrote: "The summit has a twofold meaning since the three nations have faced the ambitions and greed of a great illogical international power." This refers to the United States, which has some 2,000 soldiers in Syria after the war against the Islamic State group.
The summit Friday between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could determine whether diplomacy would stop all military action in anticipation of an offensive against the Syrian province of northwestern Idlib.
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9:55
The Iranian, Russian and Turkish Presidents will meet in Tehran to discuss the war in Syria, with all eyes open to a possible military offensive to take over the last rebel-held Idlib stronghold.
Friday's summit, the third between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, could determine whether diplomacy halts all military action.
The northwestern province of Idlib and surrounding areas are home to about 3 million people, nearly half of whom are civilians displaced from other parts of Syria. It also includes about 10,000 intransigent fighters, including Al Qaeda-linked militants.
Iran, Russia and Turkey all have their own competing interests over Syria. All are also under US sanctions under the administration of President Donald Trump.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, disseminated, rewritten or redistributed.
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