Kerry: Russia and Syrian regime should be investigated for war crimes
Russia and the Syrian regime should both be investigated for war crimes in Syria, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.
“Russia, and the regime, owe the world more than an explanation about why they keep hitting hospitals and medical facilities and children,” Kerry said at a Washington news conference with France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault.
“These are acts that beg for an appropriate investigation of war crimes,” he added.
Kerry went on to describe the series of bombings of hospitals and medical facilities in the opposition-held east of Aleppo city in recent weeks as “beyond the accidental,” alleging that both Damascus and Moscow are conducting “a targeted strategy to terrorize civilians and kill anybody and everybody who is in the way of their military objectives.”
Kerry has suspended ceasefire talks with Russia for its recent actions in Aleppo, leading to an increase in tensions between the two world powers.
Relations between the two powers soured late last month shortly after they had brokered a temporary one week ceasefire. After US coalition aircraft killed 63 Syrian soldiers, during the course of their air campaign against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, and an aid convoy to Aleppo was attacked, allegedly by the Russians, the ceasefire wasn’t renewed and the situation deteriorated.
“Russia, and the regime, owe the world more than an explanation about why they keep hitting hospitals and medical facilities and children,” Kerry said at a Washington news conference with France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault.
“These are acts that beg for an appropriate investigation of war crimes,” he added.
Kerry went on to describe the series of bombings of hospitals and medical facilities in the opposition-held east of Aleppo city in recent weeks as “beyond the accidental,” alleging that both Damascus and Moscow are conducting “a targeted strategy to terrorize civilians and kill anybody and everybody who is in the way of their military objectives.”
Kerry has suspended ceasefire talks with Russia for its recent actions in Aleppo, leading to an increase in tensions between the two world powers.
Relations between the two powers soured late last month shortly after they had brokered a temporary one week ceasefire. After US coalition aircraft killed 63 Syrian soldiers, during the course of their air campaign against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, and an aid convoy to Aleppo was attacked, allegedly by the Russians, the ceasefire wasn’t renewed and the situation deteriorated.