CHELYABINSK (Russia) (Pakistan Point news / Sputnik - 05th September, 2018) Several dozens of thousands extremists headed by the Jabhat Fatah al Sham (or Jabhat al-Nusra) terror group, outlawed in Russia, remain in the Syrian province of Idlib, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
"The only de-escalation zone remains in Idlib where several dozens of thousands extremists are still deployed. They are headed by the Jabhat al-Nusra," Lavrov told Russia's Channel One broadcaster on Tuesday.
The minister pointed out that the Jabhat Fatah al Sham group, which is recognized as a terror group by the United Nations, posed the greatest threat to the stability in Syria.
Lavrov added that Russia as well as Iran were operating in Syria at the direct invitation of Damascus while all the others were acting there illegally.
Idlib province is one of Syria's de-escalation zones and a remaining stronghold of the insurgency in the country. The situation in the province has recently escalated with Moscow and Damascus suggesting that militants are planning to stage a false-flag chemical attack against civilians there to frame the Syrian government. On Monday, US President Donald Trump called on the Syrian government as well as Russia and Iran to prevent the Syrian army's possible offensive in Idlib.
