Syria’s U.N. envoy blasts MSF over hospital attack
Staffan de Mistura accused Doctors Without Borders (MSF) of being a front for French intelligence in Syria
Syria’s U.N. envoy on Tuesday accused the medical aid charity MSF of being a front for French intelligence in Syria and dismissed allegations that Russian air strikes had destroyed one of its hospitals.
“The so-called hospital was installed without any prior consultation with the Syrian government by the so-called French network called MSF which is a branch of the French intelligence operating in Syria,” said Ambassador Bashar Jaafari.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said at least 11 people were killed after the hospital in Idlib province was destroyed on Monday morning, but it did not assign blame for the attack.
“They assume the full consequences of the act because they did not consult with the Syrian government,” Jaafari told reporters.
“They did not operate with the Syrian government permission.”
He repeated Syrian claims that the U.S.-led coalition had carried out the air strikes that hit the MSF-backed hospital.
French Ambassador Francois Delattre slammed the Syrian ambassador for his “revolting remarks” which he said “showed once again his true face.”
The Syrian ambassador spoke following a U.N. Security Council meeting called by Russia to discuss Turkey’s military action against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.
