Kremlin Denies HRW Allegations Russia Using Cluster Bombs in Syria

Moscow denies allegations its Aerospace Forces have used cluster bombs in the fight against terrorism in Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report Sunday that Moscow and Damascus had used cluster munitions, which are internationally banned weapons, in fight against militants in Syria.

In response to the report, Peskov told journalists:

“Russia is conducting its operation in strict compliance with the principles and norms of international law, including all parts of international law that regulate the use, non-use, or prohibition of one or another type of weaponry and no one should have any doubts about this.”

Syria has been in the state of civil war since 2011, with the core of the conflict being a struggle between troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad and opposition forces, as well as terrorist groups, including the Islamic State, known as Daesh in Arabic, which is outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

On September 30, Russia launched airstrikes on Daesh positions in Syria following a request from Assad. According to the Russian military, all their targets are chosen based on intelligence collected by Russia, Syria, Iraq and Iran. High-precision weapons are used in the anti-terrorist operations.