Russian Airstrikes in Syria Leave 'Over 9,000 Dead'

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition monitoring group, reported on Friday that Russian airstrikes in areas outside government control have left over 9,000 dead, tens of thousands displaced, and caused widespread destruction. Russia began its airstrikes on September 30 of last year, and its air support for Syrian government forces has shifted the balance of power in many parts of the country, including around Damascus and the Aleppo region, in favor of Bashar al-Assad's regime. In just the last two weeks, Syrian rebels have attributed the deaths of over 320 civilians and the destruction of numerous buildings in eastern Aleppo to Russian airstrikes targeting opposition positions. According to an Associated Press report, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain and responsible for collecting and publishing casualty figures and news about the Syrian civil war, stated on Friday that of the 9,300 people killed by Russian airstrikes over the past year, approximately 3,800 were civilians, including about 900 children. The report indicated that around 2,500 fighters from the Islamic State group and about 2,800 from other rebel groups, including members of the al-Nusra Front (formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda), were also killed in these strikes. On the anniversary of Russia's operations in Syria, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement warning its citizens abroad to be cautious of potential 'provocations and threats.' The spokesperson for the Russian presidency stated that preventing the capture of Damascus by rebels justifies Russia's military intervention. Dmitry Peskov added that Vladimir Putin has never set a specific time limit for this operation and will not do so now. According to this spokesperson, the goal of Russia's military intervention has been to support its long-time ally, Bashar al-Assad's regime, and after a year, it can be said that the operation has been successful in its objectives. Dmitry Peskov told reporters that if Russia had not intervened, 'terrorists would now be ruling in Damascus.' However, he refused to comment on the casualty figures released by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Associated Press also reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Friday that Russia is working to implement the United Nations' plan to cease hostilities in Aleppo for at least one day a week and to transfer humanitarian aid to the people. He added, 'Forces led by al-Nusra in eastern Aleppo are preventing this.' In an interview with BBC News, Lavrov stated, 'We do not use any munitions or weapons banned by the United Nations in this operation. I can guarantee this.' Meanwhile, countries supporting the opposition to Bashar al-Assad condemned Russia's military intervention. Gareth Bailey, the UK special envoy for the Syrian crisis, said, 'Russia claims to support a political solution to the Syrian crisis. However, since its military intervention, the ruthless regime of Bashar al-Assad has been strengthened, and Russia has failed to stop the regime's massacres.' He added, 'Russia has proven that it either does not want to or cannot influence Bashar al-Assad and must take responsibility for the regime's criminal actions.' According to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and statements from the Syrian army, government forces captured a Palestinian refugee camp in Aleppo on Thursday and also seized a hospital in the northern part of the city on Friday. In recent days, government forces have continued their offensive operations in Aleppo with air support. United Nations medical aid officials stated on Friday that the condition of medical facilities in rebel-controlled areas of Aleppo is 'very concerning.' They reported that in recent weeks of fighting, around 850 people, including 261 children, have been injured. In eastern Aleppo, with a population of over 250,000, only 30 doctors continue to work. Meanwhile, UN officials have called on all parties involved to cease hostilities to facilitate the transfer of the injured and critically ill to other hospitals.