US-backed militants hold over 2,000 refugees in camp in Syria: Russia
2 Min Read
Major General Oleg Egorov, deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria, said that US-controlled militants in Syria are using Syrians in the Rukban camp as human shields.
-
Rukban camp in Syria (AP)
More than 2,000 refugees are being held as human shields by US-controlled rebels in the Rukban camp in Syria, according to Major General Oleg Egorov, deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria.
"More than 2,000 refugees are being held in the camp as human shields by militants from the US-controlled Magavir es-Saura illegal armed group," adding that "the so-called US-led 'international anti-terrorist coalition' in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2015 No. 2254 continues to hinder the participation of Russian specialists and representatives of international organizations in the preparation and conduct of humanitarian actions in the territory under its control," Egorov said at a briefing.
The Major General added that despite the refugees' urgent need for food, water, and medical attention, they are unable to leave the camp without making "payoffs" to the militants that far surpass their funds.
Egorov noted that US Army Brig. Gen. Eric Strong, who was authorized to speak on behalf of the leadership of the coalition, had rejected the Russian proposal to authorize the expert delegation from the Center for Reconciliation of Warring Parties to visit the Rukban refugee camp and examine the humanitarian situation.
Read more: Syrian airforce destroys Al-Nusra base, eliminates 93 militants
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
