Russia knew of Syria’s ‘chemical weapons’ attack in ADVANCE and about ‘cover-up bid’ that saw Assad’s victims bombed in hospital, US officials claim
Official even claimed Russia was complicit in bombing a hospital where victims were being treated
RUSSIAN officials knew about Assad's plans to launch a chemical attack on his own people, a senior US official has claimed.
The official even claimed Russia was also complicit in bombing a hospital where victims were being treated in a bid to cover-up the atrocity.
A drone operated by Russia was reportedly flown over the hospital as the injured rushed for treatment. Hours later a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the health centre.
The official said the presence of the surveillance drone couldn't have been a coincidence, and that Russia must have known the chemical weapons attack was coming.
The allegation, made by an official who demanded anonymity is grave, even by the standards of currently dismal US-Russian relations.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Russia has been a long term supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government and the two have coordinated military attacks together.
But, Washington has never previously accused Moscow of complicity in any attack that involved the gassing of innocent civilians, including children.
The US and Russia even worked together in 2013 to remove and destroy more than 1,300 tons of Syrian chemical weapons and agents.
The official said it still isn't clear who was flying the jet that bombed the hospital, because the Syrians also fly Russian-made aircraft.
Last Thursday 59 Tomahawk missiles were fired on a Syrian airbase in the United States' first direct military action against Assad's forces.
There has been no Syrian retaliation so far for the cruise missile attack, which destroyed or rendered inoperable more than 20 Syria air force planes, he said.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon yesterday said that Russia is to blame for "every civilian death" resulting from Assad's barbaric chemical attack on his own people.
Sir Michael said Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin was responsible for the brutal killings “by proxy”, because it was the Syrian president’s “principal backer”.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368