Russia presses claim Belgian air strike killed six Syrian villagers
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 21 October 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia presses claim Belgian air strike killed six Syrian villagers, 21 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a13d13.html [accessed 18 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
October 21, 2016
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov
The Russian military has continued to press its claim that a Belgian air strike killed six Syrian villagers despite Belgium's demand for a retraction.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said on October 20 that Russia has radar evidence that two Belgian F-16 fighter jets struck the Kurdish village of Hassajek near Syria's border with Turkey on October 18.
But the Belgian Defense Ministry dismissed the evidence Russia offered as "totally groundless and unsubstantiated" and demanded a "formal retraction."
Belgium had summoned the Russian ambassador over the incident and said he provided no new proof in a "disappointing" hour-long meeting on October 20.
But Konashenkov said that Russian radar tracked the Belgian jets from the moment they took off from a base in Jordan and offered a highly detailed description of their mission over Syria.
Konashenkov said Belgian Defense Minister Steven Vandeput was "either deliberately misleading the Belgian and global public, or his subordinates along with their American counterparts were deceiving the Belgian leadership.
Based on reporting by AP, AFP, TASS, and Interfax
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
