The United Nations Security Council is bracing for a showdown between Russia and Western countries over the cross-border mechanism (CBM) of humanitarian aid deliveries to Syria.

The 15-member council approved four border crossings when deliveries began in 2014, three years after foreign-backed militancy erupted in Syria.

In January 2020, Russia used its veto power to limit aid deliveries to two border crossings given Syrian army gains against Takfiri terrorists, and in July 2020, to only one.

Today, aid is delivered through the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey to Syria’s militant-held northwest, and its mandate expires on July 10.

Norway and Ireland have recently circulated a draft resolution to keep the Bab al-Hawa crossing open and restore aid deliveries through the al-Yaroubiya crossing point from Iraq.

The one-page motion, cited by The Associated Press, would also end the current six-month mandate for the crossings and restore a one-year mandate.

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Wednesday that aid should be delivered within Syria instead, criticizing the UN and the West for doing nothing in this regard over the past year.