United Nations Security Council conveyed Friday on Idlib. UN envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura informed the 15 members of the Security Council through video conferences he attended from Geneva about the recent situation in Idlib and the possible effects of a possible military operation on the region.

"Any battle for Idlib could be, would be a horrific and bloody battle," Mistura stressed, adding, "Civilians are its potential victims, and there are ever-present dangers in the case of a full-scale assault of incidents, rapid escalations, involving regional and international players."

De Mistura urged all stakeholders in the crisis to find a solution to prevent a tragedy in Idlib while also addressing the issue of terrorism.

The three “Astana guarantors” met in Tehran on Friday and Mr. De Mistura will hold talks with them in Geneva starting on Monday.

"There are people trapped in Idlib"

John Ging, Director of Operations at the Office of the United Nations Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office (OCHA), also spoke at the Security Council. Ginger underlined that three million people remain trapped in Idlib province.

Indicating that the people trapped in Idlib are in a great victimization, Ging said, "Half of them are displaced from other parts of Syria."

"There are more babies in Idlib than terrorists, and that should give those engaging in military action pause for thought," said British Ambassador Karen Pierce.

"The Syrian authorities have the full right to fight for the restoration of control throughout all of the country's territory," Russian U.N. envoy Vassily Alekseevich Nebenzia said. "Security Council resolutions explicitly state that no cessation-of-hostilities regime covers terrorist organizations. The fight against them needs to go on."

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley urged Russia to consider its options carefully. "For Russia, continuing to support this murderous dictator, and isolating themselves from the international community, is the wrong choice," Haley said. She said there were many ways to effectively target terrorist groups without causing a humanitarian catastrophe.

ILKHA