UN concerned by reports of incendiary bombs in Syria

NEW YORK

The UN on Friday expressed concern about reports of incendiary bombs being used in Syria.

Concerned were raised hours after an opposition group to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad claimed the bombs were used in Russian airstrikes that killed at least one dozen civilians in .

"While we’re not in a position to verify these reports, it is important to note that Protocol 3 of the Convention on Conventional Weapons prohibits the use of air-delivered incendiary weapons in areas containing concentrations of civilians.” UN Secretary General's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters. “We expect that all parties and states involved in the conflict will refrain from their use in this way," Haq said.

Incendiary weapons or bombs are designed to cause fires in targeted areas.

Earlier Friday, the Syrian National Coalition claimed 12 civilians were killed in airstrikes by Russian military jets, citing activists on the ground.

On its website, the group contends that Russia used thermobaric and vacuum bombs in its attacks, as well as cluster munitions, ballistic and cruise missiles.

It also claims that a number of videos surfaced showing airstrikes on civilian-populated areas.

Anadolu Agency has not been able to verify the existence of the video footage.

Also Friday, the UN said an inter-agency convoy delivered aid packages of food, health, nutrition and non-food items to 37,500 residents in rural Damascus a day earlier.

Another convoy delivered assistance to approximately 22,500 residents in in east Aleppo, it said.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 900,000 people have received aid that included food for at least one month, the UN said, and next month it aims to reach 1.2 million people in 35 areas.