Trump tells Syria to beware ‘reckless’ onslaught

DONALD TRUMP has warned Syrian president Bashar Assad and his allies against a “reckless attack” on Idlib province.

It comes after Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said at the start of a visit to Damascus that “terrorists must be purged” from Syria’s Idlib and the entire north-western province returned to government control.

But the US president said on Twitter that “President Bashar alAssad of Syria must not recklessly attack Idlib Province”.

He added: “The Russians and Iranians would be making a grave humanitarian mistake to take part in this potential human tragedy. Hundreds of thousands of people could be killed. Don’t let that happen!”

Mr Zarif’s comments in Damascus were reported by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency and came as Syrian forces and their allies were preparing for an assault on Idlib, the last opposition stronghold in the country.

“Syria’s territorial integrity should be safeguarded and all tribes and groups, as one society, should start the reconstruction process, and the refugees should return to their homes,” Mr Zarif said.

He met with Mr Assad and his foreign minister Walid al-Moallem, who is just back from a visit to Moscow just days before the leaders of Iran, Turkey, and Russia are expected to meet in Iran.

During their meeting, Mr Assad and Mr Zarif discussed the agenda of the summit in Iran.

A statement from Mr Assad’s office said Iran and Syria “had similar views on the different issues” to be discussed. It provided no further details.

Mr Zarif said it was necessary to consult “with our Syrian friends” ahead of Friday’s summit, according to Fars.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s stance and called Idlib “a hornets’ nest of terrorists”.

Asked about Mr Trump’s tweet, Mr Peskov said such warnings do not take into account “the dangerous and negative potential” of the rebel-held enclave and show that the White House does not have a “comprehensive approach” to solving the Syria crisis.

Iran has lent crucial military and economic support to Mr Assad throughout the seven-year civil war.

In their meeting on Monday, Mr Assad and Mr Zarif discussed what they called “western pressure” on their two countries, in apparent reference to the US sanctions on Iran and calls for limiting Iran’s role in Syria.

Israel has grown nervous of Iran’s growing presence in Syria and threatened to prevent a build-up of pro-Iranian forces near its frontiers with Syria