Russia, China veto Idlib cease-fire UN resolution

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution Thursday that calls for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in northwest Syria's Idlib province.

The proposal, put forth by Kuwait, Germany, and Belgium, would have ended all hostilities in Syria’s last opposition-held enclave.

A follow-up vote on a Russian and Chinese draft resolution regarding Idlib is expected later Thursday. It would allow for ongoing military operations against "terrorists" and other groups proscribed by the UN.

"Unlike the other draft," Russia's UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya said, "our text is characterized by an exclusively humanitarian approach and does not contain any politicized passages."