‘Idlib is a ticking time bomb’
French foreign minister JeanYves Le Drian warned on Thursday that there is a danger of a “humanitarian deflagration” in Idlib, Syria’s last major rebel stronghold, as the Syrian regime is believed to be preparing a military offensive in the province.
“The regime of Bashar al-Assad wants to take Idlib militarily, and we’re warning everyone involved of the risks of humanitarian deflagration that could result,” Le Drian said during a working visit to Athens.
He described the enclave, which is held by a complex array of anti-regime fighters, many of whom have been blacklisted as “terrorists” by world powers, as a “ticking time bomb, both in humanitarian and security terms”.
As well as civilians and refugees, a number of “armed groups, terrorist groups” are concentrated in Idlib, he said.
Asked about the hypothesis that the Syrian regime could use chemical weapons, he stressed France’s determination “not to accept any derogation from chemical non-proliferation”.
“There are red lines. They were crossed a first time, and the French response was right on the nail. If they’re crossed again, then the response will be the same,” Le Drian said.
In April, the US, France and Britain launched airstrikes on Syrian targets in response to a chemical weapons attack in Douma that left scores dead.
Hundreds of civilians began fleeing Idlib on Thursday, a day before the presidents of Russia, Turkey and Iran are scheduled to meet for a summit seeking an end to the Syrian conflict.