Iraq News

Russia condemned for calling Syrian White Helmets a 'threat'

Russia was denounced at the UN on Thursday (October 11th) after describing the Syrian rescue volunteers known as the White Helmets as a "threat" and demanding their removal from the country, AFP reported Friday.

The “presence of White Helmets is a source of threat”, the Russian representative said in a closed meeting of the UN Security Council called by Moscow, according to a diplomat present at the talks, calling for the group to be removed.

Moscow's representative specifically highlighted their presence in Idlib, Syria's last major opposition stronghold, according to another diplomat speaking anonymously.

Founded in 2013, the Syria Civil Defence, or White Helmets, saves those wounded in attacks on opposition zones.

Russia does not consider members present in Syria's opposition-held areas to be rescue workers, and has already accused them of being linked to terror groups.

According to several diplomatic sources, the US, Britain and France reacted with fury and dismay.

The US condemned the "outrageous and false accusations of Russia. The White Helmets are a humanitarian organisation. Russia continues to spread false information”, according to the sources.

Britain meanwhile called on the Russians to "stop wasting the council's time" while France said it was "surprised and dismayed", adding that the group has "saved hundreds of people”.

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