U.N. Sets Up Inquiry into Aid Convoy Attack in Aleppo

NEW YORK, (ST)-The United Nations announced on Friday that it is setting up a board of inquiry to investigate an attack on UN aid convoy in Aleppo that took place on September 19, 2016.

France Press quoted the U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric as saying that “the board of inquiry will seek specifying incidents and submit a report to the UN Chief who will later decide how to follow up the issue without specifying a timetable.”

Dujarric urged all concerned parties to fully cooperate with inquiry board.

Earlier on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded that in-depth investigations be conducted, stressing the need to provide hard evidence before accusing the Russian Aerospace Forces falsely, adding that he knew the UN have launched an investigation.

 Immediately following the attack on the aid convoy, the United States blamed Russia for the incident and invited the Security Council to convene; a move criticized by Russia and described as an attempt by the United States to cover its aggression on the Syrian army position in Deir Ezzor and its failure to implement its pledges regarding the Russian-American agreement on Syria. 

On Wednesday, The Russian Defense Ministry said it received information on the involvement of a faction of the “moderate opposition” that is linked to Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization in bombarding the humanitarian aid convoy near Orum al-Kubra in the countryside of Aleppo province.

Hamda  Mustafa