Turkish forces are seen in a convoy on a main highway between Damascus and Aleppo, near the town of Saraqib in Syria's northern Idlib province, on August 29, 2018. (AFP PHOTO)
MOSCOW, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Turkey are examining a possible anti-terrorist operation in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib on the border with Turkey, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.
"Idlib is the last big stronghold of terrorists who attempt to misuse the status of a de-escalation zone to hold civilians as hostages, to use them as living shields, and to steamroll armed groups ready for talks with the government," Lavrov said.
"From all points of view, this abscess must be eliminated," he said at a press conference after talks with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir.
Idlib is one of the so-called de-escalation zones agreed to by Russia, Turkey and Iran last year amid a dispute between Moscow and Washington over the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian Government in this region.
On Tuesday, the United States, France and Britain warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against using chemical weapons, saying they "remain resolved to act if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons again."
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a separate statement late Tuesday that it had information on a large volume of toxic substances delivered to Idlib. It alleged the substances were intended to be used so that the Syrian Government would be accused of using chemical weapons.
