UN fears chemical weapons in Syria battle with "10,000 terrorists"

The United Nations called on Russia, Iran and Turkey on Thursday to forestall a battle in Syria's Idlib province which would affect millions of civilians and could see both sides using chlorine as a chemical weapon.

UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters that there was a high concentration of foreign fighters in Idlib, including an estimated 10,000 terrorists, but it would be better to set up humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians than rush into a battle which could turn prove to be a "perfect storm".

'Ready to go to Idlib'

Staffan de Mistura offered  to personally travel to Idlib to help ensure civilians can leave through a humanitarian corridor amid fears of full-scale military operations in the area."I am once again prepared ... personally and physically to get involved myself, with the government cooperation this time... to ensure such a temporary corridor would be feasible and guaranteed for the people so that they can then return to their own places once this is over," Staffan de Mistura said.