UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Syria's permanent representative to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari on Friday threatened that his country will retake Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold and home to a demilitarized buffer zone agreed to by Russia and Turkey.

"Idlib is a dearly held part of my country. We are determined to recover Idlib," Jaafari told the Security Council.

"We allow for diplomatic and political work. But our right under the UN Charter and international law allows us to fully recover Idlib when we deem necessary," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to establish a demilitarized zone within Idlib province on Sept. 17 in a bid to avert a full-scale assault on the rebel stronghold, which humanitarians feared would have severe consequences for the 3 million civilians.

The cease-fire in Idlib has so far been maintained. Attempts by the Syrian government to retake Idlib would represent a major change of situation on the ground.