'Syria regime attacks on Idlib risk political solution'

By Selen Temizer</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Attacks on Syria’s Idlib by Bashar al-Assad regime and its supporters are threatening a political solution in the country, according to a delegation of Syrian military opposition.</p> <p>“Despite some six months have passed since the Sochi agreement that foresaw cease-fire in Idlib, the Bashar al-Assad regime continues to violate the cease-fire agreement in Idlib de-escalation zone with the support of its allies Russia and Iran,” said a statement by the delegation, which represents the Syrian military opposition in the Astana-format international meetings.</p> <p>Terming the silence of international community on regime attacks on civilians as “shameful”, it added: “The regime attacks on Idlib are threatening the political solution and the Astana process.”</p> <p>It said that the opposition was in favor of the peaceful solution, and added that the attacks targeting civilians would shatter the hopes for a solution.</p> <p>“The only responsible for this situation are the guarantor countries of the regime and especially Russia,” it noted.</p> <p>Located in northwestern Syria near the Turkish border, Idlib was designated as de-escalation zone in May last year where acts of aggression are expressly forbidden.</p> <p>Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on protesters with unexpected ferocity.