Lavrov: It’s Necessary to Find, Examine Ammunition Used to Hit UN Aid Convoy

Local Editor

For objective probe in incident with attack on UN humanitarian convoy in Syria it is necessary to find and examine ammunition used to hit the convoy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

In order for the investigation of the incident with the humanitarian convoy in Syria to be considered objective, the ammunition used on it must be shown, Sergei Lavrov said during an interview with the TV channel Rossiya-1.

"Now it is necessary to conduct an investigation. Probably the easiest way and the very first step that should be made is to [examine] the ammunition that was used [during the attack] on the convoy," Lavrov said.

He went on to say: "First there appeared information claiming it was hit with artillery, and then this information disappeared. After that people spoke about helicopters; I think everyone would be able to understand what happened if we were able to see the ammunition."

A UN-Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy carrying humanitarian aid for Syria's Aleppo province was attacked late on Monday, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [IFRC].

As a result, 18 of 31 trucks were destroyed and at least 21 individuals were martyred. Several western officials, including the ones from the White House, had blamed the attack on Russia and Syria.

The Russian authorities had refuted the allegations.
Meanwhile, the United States had apologized to Syrian President Bashar Assad for the airstrike on the Syrian Army positions in Deir ez-Zor.

"Yes, they have apologized," the Russian Foreign Minister said.

On September 16, airplanes from the US-led coalition against Daesh [Arabic acronym for "ISIS" / "ISIL"] hit Syrian army positions at a military airport near Deir ez-Zor, which is besieged by the terrorist group.

Speaking about the Russia-US Syrian ceasefire agreement, Lavrov said that Moscow is not concerned that the US administration change would lead to the failure of its' implementation.

"No, we have not had such discussions," Lavrov told Rossiya 1 broadcaster in an interview.

He added that Russia "is not into crystal ball gazing but actual work. There is an agreement between the two presidents and it must be implemented."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team