Amnesty: Russian bombing of Syria may be a war crime

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

World | Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:06pm EST

Amnesty: Russian bombing of Syria may be a war crime

MOSCOW

Russia's bombing of Syria may amount to a war crime because of the number of civilians its strikes have killed, Amnesty International said on Wednesday, presenting what it said was evidence that the air raids had violated humanitarian law.

"Russian air strikes in Syria have killed hundreds of civilians and caused massive destruction in residential areas, striking homes, a mosque and a busy market, as well as medical facilities, in...attacks that show evidence of violations of international humanitarian law," Amnesty said in a new report.

Russia started its campaign of air strikes against militants in Syria on Sept. 30, saying it wanted to help the Kremlin's main Middle East ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, defeat Islamic State and other militant groups.

It has repeatedly and forcefully denied targeting civilians, saying it takes great care to avoid bombing residential areas.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-russia-syria-idUSKBN0U600920151223

[leveymg]

1. They'll have to start building out a lot of extra space at the Hague if they start indicting states

for war crimes in Syria. Who gets called into court first?