Amnesty: Russia airstrikes killed 200 civilians in Syria

Russian Federation has been carrying out airstrikes in Syria for weeks. The second conclusion, equally important, is that Russian authorities may have lied about the fact they have been only targeting terrorists.

It also denied using internationally banned deadly cluster bombs in Syria. A single cluster bomb may hold hundreds of submunitions. “Such attacks can be characterized as war crimes”, said program director of Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa Program Philip Luther.

“Every day we show you how Russian aviation is fighting worldwide terrorism, destroying their infrastructure in Syria”, said Igor Konoshenkov, a Russian defense official.

It had interviewed by phone or over the internet witnesses to the attacks, and had audio and video evidence, as well as “advice from weapons experts”. In others, they seem to have attacked military objectives and civilian objects without distinction, or caused disproportionate harm to civilians when striking military targets. “This suggests the attacks may have violated global humanitarian law and may, in some circumstances, constitute war crimes”. “As I went to an open square, I saw a horrific scene”. She had lost her husband and three children.

The general-major concluded that such fake reports are manufactured to distract the global community from the four-year civil war in Syria and to divert public attention from real concerns on the ground.

Russian Federation says its air strikes target the Islamic State (Isis) group and other terrorists.

The research also examines the reactions of Russian authorities to the investigations.

A local first responder told Amnesty that the nearest rebel military base was 300 metres (yards) away from the site where the bomb hit.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday Russia was “conducting its operation in strict conformity with principles and norms of the worldwide law”.

“Jihadis in Syria operate in highly mobile units, using Toyota pickup trucks with high-calibre weapons mounted on them”, he said. “Russian aviation are not using them”, the general-major added.

However, Russia analyst Jill Dougherty described Putin’s comments as part “chest-thumping” aimed at a particular audience at home, and perhaps also “a little bit of a shot over the bow” to Turkey.

Tensions between Russia and Turkey mounted late last month after Turkey shot down a Russian military jet that Ankara said had strayed into its territory near the Syrian border.