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

On November 20, at about 10:35 am local time, a shell hit the external protection fence of the Russian Embassy in Syria next to its residential complex during a mortar attack on Damascus launched from the terrorist positions. As a result of a 122mm mine’s burst, a wall of the building, power lines, and a water supply system were damaged. No embassy employees were hurt.

We strongly condemn this latest terrorist attack on the Russian diplomatic mission in Damascus. Russia has repeatedly drawn the attention of the international community to the continuing fire attacks on the Syrian capital by the militants, who do not want peace restored in Syria. We have already noted that such insolent actions by the extremists result in the injury or death of civilians, including women, children and the elderly. We have also pointed out that they purposefully target the Russian diplomatic mission.

We hope that our Western colleagues at the UN Security Council, who are so active in affairs related to Syria, will find enough courage not to keep silent, but to give an appropriate public response to this incident, which threatened the lives of Russian diplomats.

We would like to reaffirm that such provocations will not affect the Russian Federation’s resolve to complete, jointly with its partners, the rout of the terrorist hotbed on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, to help restore peace and security in Syria, and to strengthen its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.