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News > World

UPDATE: Moscow Responds to Shelling of Russian Embassy in Syria

  • Smoke at the Syrian capital Damascus after a series of airstrikes on an unspecified date.

    Smoke at the Syrian capital Damascus after a series of airstrikes on an unspecified date. | Photo: Twitter

Published 13 October 2015
Opinion

The attack took place as hundreds of Syrians gathered in front of the embassy in Damascus to show support for the Russian airstrikes.

Two shells were launched into Russian territory in the Syrian capital Damascus Tuesday, in front of crowds that had gathered near the building to show support for Russia’s airstrikes, the French news agency AFP reported.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the shelling of the Russian Embassy compound in Syria’s capital Damascus as "a terrorist attack."

"This is ... most likely intended to intimidate supporters of the fight against terror and prevent them from prevailing in the struggle against extremists," Lavrov said. "Together with the Syrian authorities, we are now trying to establish those responsible."

The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rockets were fired from the eastern edges of the capital, where rebels maintain some ground.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent said no one was hurt in the shelling, according to the Associated Press.

More than 300 people were witnessed running for their lives as the rockets struck the embassy. The demonstrators had been waving Russian flags and holding up large photographs of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syria’s president, Bashar Assad.

Screenshot of RT footage from the pro-Russia rally.

The attack comes after al-Qaida's branch in Syria, Nusra Front, called for retaliation against the Russian airstrikes and the Syrian government.

With Moscow's help, the Syrian army has been regaining ground from the Islamic State group and the al-Qaida affiliated Nusra Front.

RELATED: US Points Bloody Finger to Russian 'Intervention' in Syria

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