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UN secretary-general calls for immediate end to hostilities in Syria

Antonio Guterres also called for the protection of civilian infrastructure and a safe passage of civilians that are fleeing hostilities

UNITED NATIONS, December 2. /TASS/. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate end to hostilities in northwestern Syria and a return to a UN-brokered political process, according to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"The Secretary General is indeed alarmed by the recent escalation of violence across northwest Syria. He calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, reminds all the parties of their obligation under international law, including international humanitarian law, and calls for an immediate return to the UN facilitated political process, in line with Security Council Resolution 2254," Dujarric said.

According to Guterres, the offensive launched by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (banned in Russia), along with a broad range of so-called armed opposition factions, shifted front lines, caused civilian casualties and displaced great numbers of people. He also called for the protection of civilian infrastructure and a safe passage of civilians that are fleeing hostilities.

On the morning of November 27, the Jabhat al-Nusra extremist group (banned in Russia) carried out a major attack in northern Syria. According to the Syrian armed forces, the terrorists attempted to attack settlements, military sites and positions of government units.

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