Efforts Underway to Move Civilians From Harm’s Way in Syria’s Idlib Operations

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the Syria and its allies will do all they can to remove civilians from harm’s way during the imminent military operations against terrorist groups and their minions in Idlib.

"Given the fact that we will have the summit of leaders of the Astana Talks [Iran, Turkey and Russia] on Friday and the conditions in Idlib are sensitive, we are trying to frame the situation in Idlib and the expulsion of terrorists from Idlib in a way that will entail the least humanitarian cost. We held talks in Turkey and Syria to this end," Zarif told reporters in Tehran on Tuesday, Fars News Agency reported.

"We will have talks with the three members of the Astana process until Friday to prevent any harm to the Syrian people and pave the way for the process to purge extremists and get the desired results," he added.

A leading Syrian newspaper reported on Monday that the massive military operations against terrorist groups in Idlib would start after the Iranian, Turkish and Russian presidents meeting in Tehran.

Zarif travelled to Damascus on Monday a week after Iran’s defense minister travelled to the war-torn Arab country amid the Syrian army’s preparation for attacking Idlib, the last stronghold of terrorists in the north.

In talks with President Bashar al-Assad, the two sides “voiced satisfaction with the quality of ties between the two countries and agreed to continue consultations and coordination at all levels,” SANA reported.