Russian airstrikes killed hundreds of civilians in Syria: Amnesty International Report

‘Such attacks may amount to war crimes, ‘ he said.

“Amnesty International is confidently arguing that there were no military targets or militants in the areas that were allegedly hit with Russian strikes, but they can not know this and have no way of checking”, said Konashenkov.

The US has rarely acknowledged civilian deaths in its air bombardment of the so-called Islamic State (IS), which began in September 2014, although some monitoring groups say the toll could run into hundreds.

The Organisation’s research into these strikes indicate that there were no military targets or fighters in the immediate vicinity of the areas that were struck. “Russian aviation does not use them”, he said.

“Our report issued today demonstrates how Russian Federation has, we believe, committed war crimes in Syria, by directly attacking civilian areas, residential areas, including medical facilities”. More than 40 civilians are thought to have been killed in the attack, which Ghazal said took place in an area where armed groups were not present.

He also denied the Russian military used cluster munitions in Syria.

Speakinng to the Independent upon the release of its report, Amnesty said it had repeatedly put its evidence to Moscow officials beforehand but received no “substantive” response.

“The Secretary General notes with concern Amnesty International report on alleged violations of international humanitarian law resulting of the Russian airstrikes in Syria”. The report accuses Moscow of having “shamefully” failed to admit that the raids caused civilian victims.

Amnesty also utilized open-source publications and consulted with a number of other agencies, including the United Nations.

Russia’s entry into the conflict has further muddled the military landscape in the Syrian War, where front lines are always shifting and the list of participants keeps growing. “They included airstrikes on residential areas, homes and a mosque”.

During a meeting with lawmakers, the prime minister also condemned what he said were Russian air force strikes on Sunday on rebel-held Idlib.

The missiles turned the Ariha market, in the town centre, into chaos. He did not give his full name, fearing for his own safety.

The report comes shortly after a similar Human Rights Watch report that slammed Russian Federation and Syria for their indiscriminate use of cluster bombs in Syria.

With an operating base at Hmeymim near Latakia in western Syria, Russia is able to launch as many as 80 sorties per day.

Shoebridge insists that “some degree of civilian casualties” is nearly inevitable from any aerial campaign even with the most precise weapons, but says that even people witnessing the attacks on the ground can’t point to the perpetrator with any degree of certainty.