The Russian Defense Ministry has released drone footage showing that militants were using the UN aid convoy that came under attack in Syrias Aleppo as cover.
Referring to the monitoring drone footage, which was released on Tuesday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov noted that a militant pickup truck with a large caliber mortar can be clearly seen in the footage.
Analysis of the yesterdays drone footage monitoring the movement of the aid convoy through the militant-held areas helped to reveal new details, he said. The video clearly shows how the terrorists are relocating a pickup truck with a large-caliber mortar."
In the footage, the truck can be seen driving next to the convoy in a manner that it is only visible from one side.
On Monday, the United Nations said at least 18 trucks in a 31-vehicle convoy were destroyed as they came under attack while en route to deliver humanitarian aid to the hard-to-reach town of Urum al-Kubra.
The incident occurred after Syria's army announced the end of the week-long ceasefire brokered by the US and Russia, and blamed militants' lack of commitment for the failure of the truce.
US military officials have accused Russian jets of having carried out the deadly attack. There are also allegations that Syrian planes carried out the attack.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"]
Men drive a motorcycle near a damaged aid truck after an airstrike on the rebel held Urm al-Kubra town, western Aleppo city, Syria September 20, 2016.( Photo by Reuters)[/caption]Earlier, Konashenkov rejected all such allegations, stating that "The air forces of Russia and Syria did not conduct any strikes against the UN aid convoy in the southwestern outskirts of Aleppo."
Konashenkov further noted that the fire that tore through the aid convoy came "strangely at the time that militants were carrying out a large-scale attack on Aleppo."
Moreover, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has also denied claims made by US officials that two Russian Sukhoi SU-24 warplanes were seen above the convoy before the attack. "We have nothing to do with this situation," she said noting that the claims were baseless.
Aleppo, Syria's second largest city, has been divided between government forces and foreign-backed militants since 2012. Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. Over the past few months, the militants active in the Arab country have suffered major setbacks as the Syrian army has managed to liberate several areas.
By Press TV
