U.S. says 'grave' consequences if Syria's al Qaeda dominates Idlib province

[TomSea]

U.S. says 'grave' consequences if Syria's al Qaeda dominates Idlib province
Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN (Reuters) - The United States warned a takeover of rebel-held northwestern Idlib province by Syrian jihadists linked to a former al Qaeda affiliate would have grave consequences and make it difficult to dissuade Russia from renewing bombing that recently stopped.

In an online letter posted late on Wednesday, the top State Department official in charge of Syria policy, Michael Ratney, said the recent offensive by Hayat Tahrir al Sham, spearheaded by former al Qaeda offshoot Nusra Front, had cemented its grip on the province and put "the future of northern Syria in big danger".

Continued: http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-usa-idUKKBN1AJ04P

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