UN warns of "perfect storm" over Syria’s Idlib

The United Nations called on Russia, Iran and Turkey on Thursday (August 30) to forestall a battle in Syria’s Idlib province which would affect millions of civilians and could see both sides using chlorine as a chemical weapon.

UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters that there was a high concentration of foreign fighters in Idlib, including an estimated 10,000 terrorists, but it would be better to set up humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians than rush into a battle which could turn prove to be a “perfect storm” with possible military implications beyond the region.

"You can understand that when there is a perfect storm coming up in front of our eyes potentially, we need to address first things first," De Mistura said. 

"I am once again prepared personally and physically, to get involved myself to ensure such a temporary corridor would be feasible and guaranteed for the people so that they can then return to their own places once this is over," he added.

"There is no other Idlib," he warned, stressing the need to ensure civilians can evacuate to nearby areas under Assad regime control, with guarantees their rights will be respected once they get there.

Idlib is one of the de-escalation zones reached in Syria by the three guarantor states; Russia, Turkey and Iran.