Reminding that a national security meeting was held under the leadership of Turkey's President Erdogan following the attack that claimed 33 lives of Turkish soldiers in Syria, Altun said: "We have been targeting all regime positions from the ground and the air. We call on the parties of the Astana Process and the broader international community to honor their responsibilities. A repeat of past genocides such as those in Rwanda and Bosnia cannot be allowed in Idlib."

"Assad regime has been conducting ethnic cleansing & seeks to drive millions of Syrians out of Idlib. These people will try to escape to Turkey and Europe. Already hosting close to 4 million refugees, we do not have the capacity and resources to allow entry to another million," he warned.

He called on the international community to protect civilians and impose a no-fly-zone. "The guarantors of the Astana process, Russia and Iran, will lose all their credibility if they fail on their commitment to reduce violence and hostilities in Idlib," he remarked.

"Millions of civilians are being bombarded by air for months now. Infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, is being targeted by the regime systematically. A genocide is happening slowly before our eyes. Those with conscious and dignity must speak up! The regime has taken advantage of the international silence in the face of its crimes for years. Abandoning Idlib to its fate will mean that the regime’s dreams will come true. They have been pursuing demographic and ethnic cleansing in this region. We cannot look the other way!" he added.

ILKHA