US State Department Accuses Russia of Striking Syrian Hospital

Subscribe
The Unites States claims that a Russian airstrike hit a hospital in Syria, US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said in a press briefing citing media reports and “operational” information.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Russia called on the US Embassy in Moscow to explain its claims of alleged Syrian civilian deaths that it attributes to Russian airstrikes.

“We have seen some information that would lead us to believe that Russian military aircraft did hit a hospital,” Kirby told reporters on Thursday.

US Anticipates Follow-Up Meetings on Syria Political Transition

Kirby explained that US authorities have seen press reports on Russian airstrike causing civilian casualties, and are cognizant of similar claims of some Syrian civil society groups.

He added that the United States has “other operational information that leads us to believe that Russian targeting has not only not been focused on ISIL [Islamic State], but has in fact caused collateral damage, and some civilian casualties.”

Ministerial meeting of Russia, the USA, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Syria in Vienna. From left: Turkey's Foreign Minister Feridun Hadi Sinirlioglu, US Secretary of State John Kerry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Adel al-Jubeir, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov - Sputnik International
Russian, US, Saudi, Turkish Top Diplomats Hold Syria Reconciliation Talks
Asked to provide evidence, Kirby said he would not share intelligence or operational information.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday Russia has not received any official information from the West that would link deaths of civilians in Syria to Russian airstrikes.

Earlier in October, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad confirmed that the Russian airstrikes were carried out against armed terrorist organizations and not civilians.

On October 3, US military airstrikes destroyed a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, that housed some 200 people. Thirty people, including 12 MSF staff, died in the attack.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала