BICOM

Russia vetoed a UN Security Council (UNSC) statement yesterday that addressed the humanitarian crisis in southern Syria.

The Security Council statement would have called for the delivery of urgent aid supplies to civilians in southern Syria and ensured safe passage for humanitarian convoys currently stuck at the Jordanian border.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, said the UN already had a resolution allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid “across borders”.  He made no further comment, only adding: “We are focused on fighting terrorism.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the Russia-backed offensive by Syrian President Bashar al Assad’s regime was having a “devastating impact on civilians”. He added: “An estimated 750,000 lives are in danger and up to 325,000 people have been displaced.”

British Diplomats at the UN said they were “deeply concerned” about the fighting in southern Syria and the plight of displaced civilians.

Israel is acutely concerned about the involvement of Iranian and Shia militias, such as Hezbollah, in the latest military offensive. There had been reports and some assurances that neither Hezbollah or Iranian forces would be involved in the fighting but a commander of Assad regime military forces told Reuters yesterday: “Hezbollah is a fundamental participant in planning and directing this battle. Everyone knows this – the Israeli enemy, friends, and even the Russians. The battlefield situation in Syria will not be reversed. The regime and its allies have very wide control.”