The UN on Friday expressed concern about reports of incendiary bombs being used in Syria.
Anadolu Agency reported that concerns were raised hours after an opposition group to Assad claimed the bombs were used in Russian airstrikes that killed at least one dozen civilians in Aleppo.
“While we’re not in a position to verify these reports, it is important to note that Protocol 3 of the Convention on Conventional Weapons prohibits the use of air-delivered incendiary weapons in areas containing concentrations of civilians.” UN Secretary General’s deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters. “We expect that all parties and states involved in the conflict will refrain from their use in this way,” Reuters reported Haq as saying.
Incendiary weapons use substances that are designed to set fire to objects or burn people, and cluster munitions are containers that explode in the air to distribute smaller bombs over a large area. Both are banned under the Convention on Conventional Weapons, The Daily Star reported.
Earlier Friday, the Syrian National Coalition claimed 12 civilians were killed in airstrikes by Russian military jets, citing activists on the ground.
On its website, the group contends that Russia used thermobaric and vacuum bombs in its attacks, as well as cluster munitions, ballistic and cruise missiles.
It also claims that a number of videos surfaced showing airstrikes on civilian-populated areas.
