Erdogan losing as Security Council fails to impose truce in Idlib

Russia vetoed Thursday a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for imposing a ceasefire in the northwestern part of Syria for the 13th time.

The Russian veto was based on that the new resolution does not exempt attacks on terrorist groups blacklisted by the UN.

China backed Russia against the resolution, which was submitted by Kuwait, Belgium, and Germany. This is the seventh time China uses its veto power on Syria.

Equatorial Guinea abstained from voting, whereas the remaining 12 members of the Security Council backed the resolution.

Western states accuse Russia and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of targeting civilians. Nevertheless, Damascus and Moscow deny such accusations. They also say that they attack terrorists linked to al-Qaeda who control most of northwestern Syria.

Russian-Chinese failure

Russia and China, meanwhile, submitted a counter resolution. Nevertheless, this resolution failed in getting the required support from nine members of the Security Council.

Russia and China only voted for this resolution. South Africa, Indonesia, and Equatorial Guinea abstained from voting.

Sole loser

Idlib is a concentration for terrorists backed by Turkey. This makes Turkey the only loser from the resolution, which calls for imposing a ceasefire in northeastern Syria.

Forces backed by Turkey have received repeated blows since Syrian troops started their push toward Idlib in August. The Syrian army has so far succeeded in recapturing a large number of villages in the area.

Russia also accuses Turkey of failing to abide by a memorandum of understanding it signed with it for de-escalation in Idlib.

Lebanese political analyst Nidal al-Sabaa said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is no longer capable of imposing his agenda for Syria at the Security Council.

He told The Reference that the Russian-Chinese veto has succeeded in stopping the ceasefire resolution for Idlib.

“The veto gives a military, security, and political message to Erdogan that the age of backing terrorist organizations is over,” al-Sabaa said.