Russia warns West to back off as rebel ‘abscess liquidated’ in Syria’s Idlib

29 August 2018, 5:01 pm

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Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says the West must not stand in the way of an “anti-terror operation” in Syria’s Idlib, calling remaining rebel groups an “abscess” that “needs to be liquidated.”

“I hope our Western partners will not give in to (rebel) provocations and will not obstruct an anti-terror operation” in Idlib Lavrov says amid speculation Damascus is planning a Russian-backed offensive on the rebel-held province.

Lavrov also accuses the West of “actively heating up” the idea of a “so-called planned chemical attack by the (Syrian) government.”

Over the last week, Moscow has accused Syrian rebels of planning to stage a chemical attack in the northwestern province that would “provoke” Western strikes on its ally Damascus.

— AFP