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Conflict in Syria

Russia Defense Ministry publishes photos of Syria’s Raqqa, destroyed by bombings

Raqqa’s photos made in 2014 have also been presented to be compared to the recent ones

© Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW, April 7. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry has published photos of the Syrian city of Raqqa, destroyed by the US-led coalition bombings, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

"The Russian Defense Ministry has published aerial photos showing the horrifying scale of the destruction of Raqqa by the US-led coalition bombings. Most residential dwellings, hospitals, mosques, schools and critical infrastructure facilities have been destroyed," the statement reads.

Raqqa’s photos made in 2014 have also been presented to be compared to the recent ones showing only ruins.

According to the ministry, many of those returning to the city are killed by unexploded ordnances and other explosive devices.

"From October 2017 to March 2018, a total of 658 civilians who had earlier returned to the city were injured by landmines, while another 130 were killed. As many as 25-30 incidents of this kind are recorded every week," the Russian Defense Ministry added.

The ministry pointed out that the US-led coalition bombings had killed thousands of civilians whose bodies still remained under the destroyed buildings’ rubble. "There is no running water and no electricity, no hospitals and drugstores. Conditions for the safe return of civilians have not been created, while those who have already returned are facing constant danger."

The ministry sources also said that the situation was totally different in areas that the Syrian government forces had liberated with the assistance of the Russian Aerospace Force, including Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and Eastern Ghouta. People there are receiving humanitarian aid, demining is underway, infrastructure facilities are being restored and state institutions are being re-established.

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