MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia expects the US-led counterterrorist coalition to condemn the latest deadly airstrike in Syria by one of its allies, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.
"We are waiting for an adequate response from the coalition, of course from Belgium, from all international institutions that are so concerned about attacks on Aleppo carried out by the Russian Aerospace Forces, including the attributed civilian casualties," Zakharova told reporters.
Zakharova stressed that she fails to see how "this fact could go unnoticed."
"If we do not have direct condemnation of the coalition's actions, particularly that of the Belgian Air Force, we will have no other option than to consider what is happening now as an attempt to keep the militants in Syria," Zakharova said.
Unacceptable Not to Use Humanitarian Pause in Syria for Intended Purpose
"The situation in which this pause will not be used for its intended purpose, namely to facilitate the solution of the humanitarian situation, is unacceptable," she told reporters.
The announcement on the humanitarian pause for Aleppo was made on Monday by chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Directorate Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy. On Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Arab Air Force stopped airstrikes in the vicinity of Aleppo starting 07:00 GMT ahead of the humanitarian pause.
"If there is no action on the part of the coalition and all those who have expressed concern about the humanitarian situation [and] its resolution, then the aim was not at all the humanitarian situation in Aleppo. This will be direct and unequivocal evidence of support for militants," Zakharova stressed.
