Russia bombs 1,000 ISIS targets in 5 days as Moscow accused of 'war crimes'

Russia claims a prime target of the blasts was an ISIS training camp, used mainly by foreign recruits from Turkey and other post-Soviet states. 

The latest bombs come with Vladimir Putin's campaign in Syria under fire from Amnsesty International, which has claimed Moscow is guilty of violating humanitarian law. 

It accuses Russia of killing 200 Syrian civilians, meaning some blasts could constitute war crimes.

Moscow has poured scorn on the claims, saying Amnesty's report is full of "cliches and lies".

Amnesty's report said: "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."

The Kremlin began its campaign of air strikes against militants in Syria on September 30, although critics have accused Moscow of targeting rebels opposing dictator Bashar al-Assad instead.

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

But the Amnesty report, whose charges echoed those of some Syrian and Western observers, said Russian air strikes had killed "at least 200 civilians and around a dozen fighters" up to November 29.

"Such attacks may amount to war crimes," said Philip Luther, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Amnesty International.

Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Defence Ministry, said the report contained "fake information".

He said: "The conflict in Syria has been going on for almost five years. Around 300,000 people are estimated to have become its victims.

"It's strange that Amnesty International avoids a question about who committed war crimes in Syria before the appearance of a Russian air force group there."

Amnesty said the report, which focused on six attacks in Homs, Idlib and Aleppo, was based on interviews with witnesses and survivors, as well as video evidence and images showing the aftermath.

A defiant Russian Defence Ministry says the report, which contains "trite cliches" and "fake information", ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told a news briefing.

He also rejected accusations by human rights bodies that Russia was using cluster bombs in Syria.

(dailystar.co.uk)