MOSCOW. Aug 29 (Interfax) - The West's threats against Damascus in connection with a possible chemical provocation are being used to prevent terrorists from being driven away from Idlib, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"One gets the impression that this issue and the threats that are being made in this regard against the Syrian government have one purpose: to prevent terrorists from being driven away from the Idlib de-escalation zone," Lavrov said following talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir.
"That's probably due to the wish that has been seen in the United States' position for several years; it started back under Obama, when the Americans wanted to prevent a strike on Jabhat al-Nusra [banned in Russia] at all costs, hoping to use it in the fight against, as they say, the regime," he said.