Russia airstrikes on Syria terrorists highly effective

Russia has underlined that its aerial campaign in Syria against positions of foreign-backed terrorists has been “highly effective,” dismissing allegations that its bombings over the militant-held city of Aleppo amounted to war crimes.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov insisted on Monday that the airstrikes across Syria by Russian aircraft in support of government troops had prevented heavily armed terrorists from taking over the Arab country.

"From this perspective our participation has been highly effective, especially now when the situation around Aleppo has worsened," Gatilov said.

The senior official further rejected accusations by Syria’s opposition that Russian jets were indiscriminately bombing Aleppo’s militant-controlled eastern section to support an ongoing offensive by Syrian troops aimed at fully recapturing the country’s second largest city.

The largest hospital in eastern Aleppo was bombed over the weekend for the second time in days. Moscow was accused of bombing the medical facility.

Russia has persistently denied allegations that its airstrikes have targeted hospitals and other civilian centers.

"Accusations that Russia is allegedly bombing medical facilities, hospitals, schools are all baseless," Gatilov emphasized.

SS