MOSCOW. Dec 13 (Interfax) - The Russian military has received information that Syrian militants and the White Helmets organization are plotting a provocation in the Idlib de-escalation area, head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria Yury Borenkov said at a press briefing on Thursday.
"The Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides has received information that the leaders of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group [banned in Russia], acting together with members of the pseudo-humanitarian organization White Helmets, are plotting to fake the use of toxic agents and destruction of facilities of civilian infrastructure in populated localities in the southern part of the Idlib de-escalation area," Borenkov said.
For this end, they are going to publish photos and videos on the Internet and have prepared articles for publication in Middle Eastern and Western media outlets to blame Syrian government forces for using chemical weapons against civilians and for carrying out non-selective strikes, he said.
"The Russian Center for Reconciliation urges commanders of illegal armed units to stop armed provocations and to take the path of peaceful reconciliation in the areas under their control," he said.