America will discuss Idlib situation in Security Council

NEWS DESK

"If they want to continue to regain control of Syria they can, but they cannot do it with chemical weapons," US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said that during a press conference.

Haley, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council in September, said the issue of Idlib was "serious" and said the majority of the council supported the meeting, which would start at 13:30 or 14:00 GMT.

"The president told Iran, Russia and Bashar al-Assad not to attack, do not allow a chemical attack on the people of Idlib," Haley said of the recent warnings by US President Donald Trump about the possibility of using chemical weapons by Syrian regime to regain control of Idlib.

The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have warned that a large-scale attack on the province would lead to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, but Russia and Iran have stressed the need to eliminate the armed factions existing in the province.

H/S

ANHA