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Russia baffled by Belgium’s refusal to acknowledge Hassadjek village bombing

The Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned Belgium's ambassador over the airstrike near Aleppo

MOSCOW, October 21. /TASS/. Belgium’s persistent denial of the Belgian Air Force’s attack on the outskirts of Aleppo baffles Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said after Belgian ambassador to Russia Alex Van Meuwen had been summoned.

"On October 21, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Belgium’s Ambassador to Russia Alex Van Meuwen," the ministry said.

"While talking to him (the Belgian ambassador) Russia’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov stated that Moscow was baffled by Belgium’s persistent denial of the Belgian Air Force’s attack on the outskirts of Aleppo on October 18 which caused civilian deaths," the ministry said in a statement.

Titov presented to Van Meuwen proofs the Belgian Air Force was involved in the airstrike on Hassadjek near Aleppo.

"The Belgian diplomat was provided with proofs the Belgian Air Force was involved in the airstrike on the Hassadjek village," the Russian ministry said. "The information said was that similar reports on technical aspects of two F-16 flights were earlier presented by the Russian Defense Ministry to the Belgium military attache in Moscow."

On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry released and said it would turn over the material on the F-16 strike on the Hassadjek village on Aleppo’s outskirts, which killed at least six civilians, to Belgium. Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said that "military and diplomatic channels would be used to inform Belgium in detail about the Belgian F-16s operation in the skies over Syria."