Kremlin denies Russian strikes on Syria hospitals

Russia is not bombing hospitals in northern Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Tuesday, calling such reports “unsubstantiated accusations.”

“Once again, we categorically reject and do not accept such statements,” he says when asked whether Russian planes bombed hospitals in Syria, including one supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

“Especially since every time, those who make such statements are unable to prove in any way their unsubstantiated accusations.”

The Kremlin spokesman adds that Moscow prefers to rely on “first-hand sources” of information, which he says in this case would be the Syrian government.

Syria’s ambassador to Russia, Riad Haddad, on Monday accuses the United States of bombing the MSF hospital and said that “Russian warplanes had nothing to do with any of it.”

Strikes on hospitals in Idlib and Azaz killed almost 50 civilians including children, according to the United Nations, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon saying the raids violated international law and undermined efforts to end the five-year conflict.

— AFP