Comment by the Information and Press Department on a mortar attack against Russian Embassy in Syria

On September 20 at about 9 am, a mortar round hit the grounds of the Russian Embassy in Damascus. It was deeply embedded in the ground and caused no damage. Syrian combat engineers were summoned to the scene and eventually extracted a large marked fragment. Investigators are currently trying to determine how militants managed to obtain this shell.

We resolutely condemn this criminal attack on the Russian diplomatic mission in Damascus. We expect all members of the international community, including regional parties, to express their clear position in connection with this terrorist act. At the same time, specific actions, and not just words, are required. The Russian Embassy was shelled from Jobar district where anti-government militants are entrenched. Although they are not aligned with the Islamic State, they have foreign sponsors who are responsible for influencing illegal paramilitary units.

September 21, 2015