BICOM

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Tuesday that the West’s response to a chemical weapons attack by Syrian regime forces will be “strong and united”. He confirmed that he spoke with US Secretary of State Pompeo about the need to uphold the global ban on chemical weapons and to avoid a humanitarian disaster in Idlib.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Hunt, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and Mark Sedwill, the National Security Adviser, spoke about the appropriate response in the event of another chemical weapons attack in Syria. National Security Advisor John Bolton said this week that he had been in consultation with the British and the French and that they agreed that another use of chemical weapons would result in a much stronger response.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told Fox News’ that “any offensive on the civilian people in Idlib was going to be dealt with,” suggesting that US forces will not just act in case of chemical weapons being used, but against any attack on the province. France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told lawmakers that the indiscriminate bombing of areas in Idlib by Russian, Syrian and Iranian forces could amount to war crimes.

Turkey is reinforcing its military positions in Idlib province in the hope of preventing a final ground assault by the Syrian regime to clear out rebels from the area.

According to Turkish and Syrian sources, extra troops, armoured vehicles and equipment have been sent to the Syrian border, whilst the Turkish army has reinforced 12 military posts inside Idlib itself. Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said that Turkey remains determined to halt the air strikes on Idlib and stall a ground offensive, while officials warn that Turkey would respond if its forces come under fire.

A UN commission on Wednesday called on rebel groups in Idlib to leave urban areas to protect civilians. Last week the UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, suggested a deadline be set for fighters to pull back from major cities. UN agencies and relief organisations have warned that any major assault on the province could spark one of the worst humanitarian disasters of Syria’s seven-year civil war.