An offensive on Syria's northwestern Idlib province by Bashar Assad's regime forces will lead to a bloodbath for civilians and a humanitarian tragedy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told journalists accompanying him during his three-day official visit to Kyrgyzstan, Daily Sabah reports.
"There are about 3.5 million people there [Idlib]. Russia and the United States pass the buck to each other. However, God forbid, if missiles target the area, a serious massacre will take place," Erdogan said, adding that a possible large-scale offensive would lead to a new wave of refugees toward Turkey.
Since the breakout of the civil war in Syria, nearly 4 million Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey, causing a heavy economic and social burden on Turkey. Erdogan added that Turkey has been in coordination with its Russian and Iranian counterparts to avoid the calamity in Idlib and de-escalate tensions.