Mortar shell lands into Russian Embassy in Syria, injures 3
Russian Embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus (file photo)
At
least three people have been injured when a mortar shell struck the
Russian Embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus amid ongoing clashes
between government forces and the foreign-sponsored militant groups.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that at least three people working at the Embassy received injuries after the projectile landed in the compound of the diplomatic mission on Sunday, Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
The statement noted that the employees’ injuries were non-life threatening, and an investigation into the incident is under way.
It did not say whether those hurt were Russian or local employees, but it added that the Embassy was looking into additional security measures after the attack.
Militants have targeted the Russian Embassy several times since the beginning of unrest in Syria two years ago.
Earlier this month, Russia’s Embassy in Damascus was also hit by a mortar shell. No casualties were reported.
On June 4, at least one civilian was killed and several others injured near the Russian Embassy in Damascus by shellfire from militants fighting against the Syrian government.
Two mortar shells hit al-Adawi area in Damascus. Opposition sources, however, claimed that five shells hit the area with some of them striking near the Russian Embassy.
Residents in the area said the mortars landed about 150 meters from the building that houses the Russian Embassy.
Two mortar shells fired by militants also landed in the nearby Barada Club Park in al-Faihaa, causing material damage only.
The Russian Embassy was damaged in February when a car bomb exploded nearby on a busy Damascus highway, killing 50 people.
No one was wounded in the Embassy, but the blast blew out windows in the building.
Syria has been gripped by deadly turmoil since 2011.
According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions of others displaced in the violence.
Reports indicate that Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside the country.
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