UN suspends Syria aid convoys after ‘savage’ attack

Following air raid on UN aid convoy in Syria, the US has blamed the Russians for killing aid personnel; US says has evidence Russian war planes carried out the attack; 18 of 31 aid trucks destroyed; UN stops aid deliveries; local paramedic: ‘military positions aren’t hit this intensely.’

BEIRUT- The United States on Tuesday blamed Russia for an overnight attack on an aid convoy that killed 20 civilians as the UN announced it was suspending overland aid deliveries in Syria, jeopardizing food and medical security for millions of besieged and hard-to-reach civilians.

 

Confusion continued about who struck the convoy, but the White House insisted it was either Russia or Syria. White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said either way, the US held Russia responsible, because it was Russia’s job under the week-old cease-fire to prevent Syria’s air force from striking in areas where humanitarian aid was being transported.

 

“All of our information indicates clearly that this was an airstrike,” Rhodes said, rejecting the claim by Russia’s Defense Ministry that a cargo fire caused the damage. Both Russia and Syria have denied carrying out the bombing.

 

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