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Russian deputy prime minister responds to NATO’s accusations of non-precise airstrikes

"Shifting the blame: the specialist on bombing Afghan weddings has accused us of ‘non-precise bombing’," Rogozin wrote on his Facebook page

MOSCOW, March 2. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has responded to accusations made by NATO Supreme Allied Commander Philip Breedlove that Russian forces use non-precise weapons in Syria.

"Shifting the blame: the specialist on bombing Afghan weddings has accused us of ‘non-precise bombing’," Rogozin wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

Breedlove said on Tuesday: "These indiscriminate weapons used by both Bashar al-Assad, and the non-precision use of weapons by the Russian forces, I can't find any other reason for them other than to cause refugees to be on the move and make them someone else's problem."

Russia's military operation in Syria

Russia’s Aerospace Force started delivering strikes in Syria at facilities of the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups (both banned in Russia) on September 30, 2015. The air group initially comprised over 50 aircraft and helicopters, including Sukhoi Su-24M, Su-25SM and state-of-the-art Su-34 aircraft. They were redeployed to the Khmeimim airbase in the province of Latakia. On October 7, Moscow also involved the Russian Navy in the military operation. Four missile ships of the Caspian Flotilla fired 26 Kalibr cruise missiles (NATO codename Sizzler) at militants’ facilities in Syria.

Ceasefire in Syria

The ceasefire between government forces and armed opposition took effect in Syria at 00:00 Damascus Time on February 27. An hour before the agreement entered into force, UN Security Council adopted a resolution in support of cessation of hostilities in Syria. It is expected that inter-Syrian talks will resume in Geneva on March 9.