Written question asked by Marquess of Lothian (Conservative) on Monday, 8 February 2021, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 February 2021. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Monday, 22 February 2021 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the government of Syria is mounting an offensive in Idlib; and what steps they are taking in response to the remarks made by (1) the UN Special Envoy for Syria, and (2) the Under-Secretary-General Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, at the meeting of the UN Security Council on 20 January.

Answer: UN Envoy Geir Pedersen has described a 'fragile calm' in Syria that could break down at any moment. The UK welcomes Turkey's efforts to uphold the ceasefire in Idlib and prevent a further regime offensive. We urge all parties to adhere to agreed ceasefires and their obligations under international law. We also fully support Geir Pedersen's efforts towards a political solution to the conflict in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Tackling the humanitarian impact of the Syria crisis remains a priority for the UK as the Assad regime's policies devastate the Syrian economy and deny aid to the most vulnerable. We continue to use our position at the UN Security Council to push for greater aid access into Syria and we remain committed to supporting aid delivery, through all mechanisms, to those in need.

Secondary information