Syrian Observatory, Reuters spreading lies about airstrikes: Russia

Russia has accused the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Reuters news agency of spreading lies about its involvement in a series of airstrikes is Syria’s Northwestern Idlib Province.

According to Press TV, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov on Tuesday said “We urge people to remain critical of any horror stories spread by the ‘British tandem’ of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Reuters news agency.”

Earlier, the UK-based monitoring group reported that Russia carried out air raids on the province, and Reuters said they were “the heaviest bombardment there since a cessation of hostilities was agreed in February.”

The reports claimed that at least 23 civilians, among them seven children, were killed in the strikes which targeted several areas, including a hospital.

Reuters also quoted Turkish sources as saying that 60 civilians were killed and 200 more injured.

“No combat missions, let alone delivering airstrikes, have been performed by the Russian Air Force in Idlib Province,” stressed Konashenkov.

"As we presented to the world the objective monitoring data, fully disproving their previous fabrications -- neither the Observatory nor the agency even tried to listen and much less publish a denial," he noted.

The allegations of Russia’s involvement in the incidents were not confirmed by the US either. “We’re still looking into what happened in Idlib. We don’t have a great sense of complete knowledge here of who’s responsible,” said State Department Spokesman John Kirby.

“We’re going to continue to work closely – inside the cessation of hostilities task force – with the Russians to try to figure out what happened here, and we’ll take it from there,” Kirby added.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said airstrikes against terrorist groups that have not joined a ceasefire in Syria will recommence this week.

ME