UN and US Statements on Idlib Attack

* Photo: AA

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United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres and United States (US) Department of State have released written statements regarding the escalating tension in the northwest Syria and the airstrike that claimed the lives of 33 soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF).

CLICK - 33 Soldiers Lose Their Lives in Idlib Attack

UN calls for an immediate ceasefire

In a statement released by Stephane Dujarric, the Secretary General's Spokesperson, the call for an "immediate ceasefire" in northwestern Syria has been reiterated, indicating that Guterres is monitoring the escalation in the region and reports of fallen Turkish soldiers with "grave concern."

Guterres has "expressed particular concern about the risk to civilians from escalating military actions" and added, "Without urgent action, the risk of even greater escalation grows by the hour."

Underlining that there is no military solution to the Syrian conflict, Dujarric has said, "The only sustainable solution is a UN-facilitated political process pursuant to Security Council resolution 2254 adopted in 2015."

US has condemned the attack

Following the airstrike, the US Department of State has also released a statement and said, "The United States once again condemns the continued, unjustifiable, and ruthless assaults on the people of Idlib."

Reiterating its "call for an immediate end to this despicable offensive by the Assad regime, Russia and Iranian-backed forces", the Department has said:

"We stand by our NATO ally Turkey in the aftermath of the attack, which resulted in the death of multiple Turkish personnel serving at an observation post used for coordination and de-escalation, and fully support Turkey's justified self-defense actions in response."

33 soldiers have lost their lives

Governor of Hatay Rahmi Doğan has made a statement regarding the airstrike the claimed the lives of 33 soldiers and wounded several others in Syria's Idlib yesterday evening (February 27).

Governor Rahmi Doğan has stated, "Our 33 soldiers have fallen martyrs in an airstrike launched by the Assad regime forces in Idlib."

"There are critically wounded [soldiers following the attack], and they are being treated at hospitals," Doğan has told state-run Anadolu Agency (AA).

While the initial number of the deceased soldiers was announced as nine, the number increased to 29. According to latest reports, 33 soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) have lost their lives in the attack.

With this latest attack, the number of soldiers who lost their lives in Syria's Idlib since the beginning of 2020 has increased to 51. (TP/SD)