Translated material
The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Assad’s opponents and “external sponsors” of shelling the embassy in Damascus
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced a mortar attack on the Russian embassy in Damascus and blamed opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for it.
The embassy came under fire on the morning of 20 September. According to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "a mortar shell fell on the territory of the diplomatic mission, having gone deep into the ground and did no harm."
The shelling, according to the ministry, was carried out “from the direction of the Jobar district, where anti-government militants dug in,” who “do not consider themselves supporters of the Islamic State” (the organization is recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia and banned). These militants, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, "have external sponsors who are responsible for exerting the necessary influence on illegal armed groups."
We strongly condemn the criminal shelling of the Russian diplomatic mission in Damascus. We expect a clear position in connection with this terrorist act from all members of the international community, including the regional parties. This requires not only words, but also concrete actions.
- Russia officially supports the government of Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that has been going on in Syria since 2011. The Russian Federation supplies weapons to Syria within the framework of concluded contracts and sends instructors to this country to train the Syrian military.
- Since the beginning of September, there have been regular reports of an increase in the Russian military presence in Syria. According to unofficial sources, Russia is actively building at the airport in Latakia. The Syrian authorities claim that the Russian military does not take part in the hostilities.