British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said he is “increasingly disturbed” by Russian air strikes on moderate opposition forces and civilians in Syria.” Fallon added that “we have estimates of several hundred civilians killed through the use of unguided munitions on civilian areas and opposition groups fighting Assad.”
“I am increasingly disturbed by Russian bombing,” Fallon said on Wednesday ahead of a defense ministers’ meeting in Paris to assess US-led coalition efforts in Syria and Iraq.
“That I deplore. Propping up the Assad regime is simply prolonging the agony. On the contrary, Russia should be using its influence to make it clear that Assad has no future in Syria,” Fallon added.
Fallon said it was time to capitalize on Islamic State’s recent setbacks and tighten the noose around its bastion in Al-Raqqa.
The Syrian Coalition earlier said that “the failure to explicitly and clearly condemn the Russian aggression and the inaction towards Russia’s massacres against the Syrian people constitute outright support for these crimes. This silence also represents complicity in undermining efforts to find a political solution in Syria.”
“Crimes by the Assad regime and its allies represent a clear violation of UN Security Council resolution 2254 which calls for immediate cessation of all attacks against civilians. The silence of the international community over the crimes of the Assad regime and its allies against Syrian civilians as well as its complete disregard for their blood is a shameful stain on humanity.” (Source: Syrian Coalition + Agencies)
