Graham urges Trump to 'up his game' on Syria

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a key ally of President Donald Trump and an advocate of a strong U.S. military posture in the Middle East, urged the president to "up his game" in Syria by declaring a no-fly zone "to protect women and children of Idlib from being massacred."

The area is the country's last rebel-controlled stronghold and the Syrian government's military campaign there, backed by Russia, has created a humanitarian catastrophe with nearly 1 million people displaced from their homes since Dec. 1.

"The Russians and the Assad regime need to be held accountable by the international community," Graham said.

"It's just not the United States, it's the entire world. And it really breaks my heart."

Airstrikes on rebel-controlled northwest Syria killed at least 16 people Tuesday, including two students and two teachers, opposition activists said, as government forces captured Kafranabel, a town considered a symbol of the uprising against President Bashar Assad.

Tensions have been running high between Turkey and Russia, which support opposing sides of the war in Syria.

The Syrian government offensive has shattered a fragile cease-fire agreement that Turkey and Russia reached in 2018 and Turkey has threatened military action unless Syrian forces retreat to positions they held before the advance by the end of February.