Russia denies it killed civilians in air strikes

Moscow said it was responding to charges from the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

The Russian Defence Ministry yesterday denied allegations that its air strikes had killed civilians in Syria’s Idlib province, saying that in the past few days it had only bombed Islamist militant fighters in the area.

Moscow said it was responding to allegations from the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which on Monday said six civilians had been killed in the province, including a woman and a child.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also criticised Russia on Monday for the same reason, saying that recent Russian bombing in Idlib had killed civilians and moderate rebels and that this would be discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin when he visited Turkey this week.

Major-General Igor Konashenkov of the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement that the Russian and Syrian air forces did not bomb residential areas and accused the observatory of making up allegations and of sympathising with radical militants.

“In the last few days, after drone reconnaissance and confirmation via other channels, Russian planes struck 10 terrorist targets in Idlib province,” Konashenkov said. “These were militant bases, ammunition stores, armoured vehicles, rocket systems, and workshops fitting out ‘jihad jeeps’ which were located a long way from residential areas,” he said.

The targets struck had taken part in a militant offensive last week, which surrounded 29 Russian military policemen who then had to be broken out in a special operation backed by air power, he added.