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Conflict in Syria

Russia’s Defense Ministry refutes reports about airstrikes in Eastern Ghouta

Russia’s air force performed no combat missions in the area of Eastern Ghouta, the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said

© EPA-EFE/MOHAMMED BADRA

MOSCOW, March 16. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry has refuted reports about alleged Russian airstrikes in Eastern Ghouta, saying they were "fake news."

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Top diplomat hopes US-led coalition will stop justifying extremists in Eastern Ghouta

"Reports from the British Syrian Observatory For Human Rights citing anonymous ‘activists’ from the village of Kafer Batna about alleged Russian airstrikes in Eastern Ghouta are yet another fake. Russia’s air force performed no combat missions in the area of Eastern Ghouta," Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday.

According to Konashenkov, the only Russian military staying in this area are officers of the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria who are tasked to ensure operation of humanitarian corridors, help civilians conduct ceasefire negotiations with armed opposition leaders.

"I would like to stress that these activities are carried out in the eyes of journalists, including from foreign media. Moreover, the Russian Defense Ministry has organized online broadcasting both from the ground and from unmanned aerial vehicles of the actual situation in Eastern Ghouta, around the humanitarian corridors that have already been used by more than 16,00 civilians to leave the area," he said.

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