UNITED NATIONS, June 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday voiced concern over the situation in Syria's Idlib.
"I am deeply concerned about the escalation of the fighting in Idlib, and the situation is especially dangerous, given the involvement of an increased number of actors," Guterres told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York.
He noted that civilians are paying a horrific price. "And let me underscore that, even in the fight against terrorism, there needs to be full compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law."
He asked Russia and Turkey, the two countries that brokered an agreement on Idlib cease-fire in September 2018, to wield influence again.
"I appeal in particular to the Astana guarantors (Russia, Turkey and Iran), and to the Russian Federation and Turkey, especially, as the signatories of the September 2018 memorandum of understanding on Idlib, to stabilize the situation without delay," he said.
There is no military solution to the Syrian crisis. It was clear at the start and it remains clear more than eight years later that the solution must be political, said Guterres.
The UN Security Council will be briefed on the situation in Idlib, the last rebel-held territory in Syria, later Tuesday.
