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UN Chief Urges Russia, Turkey to Stabilize Syria's Idlib 'Without Delay'

Reuters

   UNITED NATIONS - U.N. chief Antonio Guterres appealed to Russia and
   Turkey on Tuesday to stabilize northwest Syria as the U.N. aid chief
   said that some hospitals were not sharing their locations with the
   warring parties because that "paints a target on their back."

   Russia, which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his
   country's civil war, and Turkey, long a backer of rebels, co-sponsored
   a de-escalation pact for the area that has been in place since last
   year.

   But the deal has faltered in recent months, forcing hundreds of
   thousands of civilians to flee. Idlib in northwest Syria is the last
   remaining bastion of anti-government rebels after eight
   years of civil war.

   "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, appealing to
   Russia and Turkey "to stabilize the situation without delay."

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