Russia:

US, US-Led Coalition Secrecy in Syria Helps Evade Responsibility for Civilian Deaths

Rasa - Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman General Igor Konashenkov said on Wednesday that secrecy of the actions of the US Air Force and the US-led coalition in Syria allowed them to evade responsibility for the deaths of civilians.

News ID: 426464

Date: 11 January 2017 - 22:16

RNA - "The aviation of the US Air Force and the international coalition tries to act in secrecy during operations in Syria," said Konashenkov, RIA Novosti reported.

"Our US colleagues do not like to notify of their plans of use of their military planes, only rarely outlining the approximate timeframe and area. But not the specific types of planes and to whom they belong. This allowed the coalition's planes to evade responsibility for civilian deaths and destruction of civilian objects in vases of tragic ‘mistakes."

US military officials are often nowhere to be found on the other end of a hotline set up with Russia to discuss and resolve contentious issues in Syria, he added.

"Our US colleagues often simply cannot be found on the other side of the 'hotline' in Qatar, designed to discuss and resolve contentious issues," Konashenkov said.

General Charles Corcoran, commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, accused Russian pilots of "rarely, if ever" responding to distress calls amid alleged close calls over Syria, US media reported Monday.

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