Over 270 civilians reported killed from shelling in Syria

Monday, June 6, 2016

More than 270 civilians were killed in 24 hours from militant shelling in Syrian cities according to a report on Saturday from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides in Syria. The report, published on the Russian Defense Ministry website, also stated that hundreds of civilians have been injured.

In a message directed to the UN's Secretary General and Security Council head, the Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Ministry reported the attacks came from "moderate" opposition groups that were joining the Al-Nusra Front and its affiliates in Aleppo, Syria. According to the Center on Saturday, one of the opposition groups, Ahram al-Sham, joined the Al-Nusra Front for an attack against Kurdish militias, which effectively forced Kurds to retreat from their positions in the city on Saturday.

The militants' reported new offensive took place in a cessation of Russian and Syrian warplane activity beginning over a week earlier, which enabled the militants to regroup. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the cessation was meant to permit groups coordinating with the United States and Russia to separate themselves from the the Al-Nusra Front.

However, Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said on television that the United States had requested Russia avoid targeting the Al-Nusra Front, which has affiliations with al-Qaeda. In response, a US State Department spokesperson stated on Friday that the request was to avoid targeting civilians or legitimate opposition.

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Sources

"‘Moderate opposition’ involved in ongoing attacks on civilians in Aleppo – Syrian FM to UN" — RT (TV network), June 6, 2016
"Terrorists shell Syrian cities killing over 270 peaceful civilians" — TASS, June 5, 2016
"Kurdish militias retreat from strategic Aleppo district after jihadist offensive" — RT (TV network), June 4, 2016
Vladimir Isachenkov (AP). "US asks Russia to not hit Nusra Front in Syria, Moscow says" — The Washington Post, June 3, 2016
"Syria civil war: Russia denies conducting Idlib raids" — Al Jazeera, May 31, 2016

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