Two shells Hit Russian Embassy in Damascus… Lavrov Says Attack is a Terrorist Act Aiming to Frighten Backers of Fight against Terror

DAMASCUS, MOSCOW- Two shells hit the Russian embassy area in Damascus Tuesday as scores of Syrian people gathered outside the compound to thank Moscow for its support to Syria.

According to a RIA Novosti correspondent on the scene, the diplomatic mission staff is all safe.

“Two mortar rounds hit the Russian Embassy compound in Damascus. Employees at the diplomatic mission were not hurt,” the Embassy employee told RIA Novosti.

An eye-witness at the scene told the news agency that several shells hit close to the site of a peace rally in support of Russia’s air campaign in Syria.

 “The rounds struck the location where a peace demonstration was underway in support of Russian action in Syria. One shell landed outside a sports club in al-Barada, the other in the al-Adawi [districts]. Several people were injured. The site of the blasts has been cordoned off,” the witness said.

Earlier on Tuesday, several mortars were fired at the Russian Embassy, two of them striking the building. According to an embassy employee, no one inside the building was injured.

“In regard to the shelling of our embassy in Damascus, this has been confirmed by our ambassador. Two shells struck the embassy compound…This is obviously a terrorist attack directed to most likely frighten the backers of the fight against terror and not allow them to win in the fight against extremism,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a press conference in Moscow.

He added that Moscow would cooperate with Damascus authorities to find those responsible for the attack on the Russian Embassy in Syria.

Sputnik

H.M