British MP’s compare Russian bombing to Nazi bombardment

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson marked his debut speech in the House of Commons to call for an investigation into war crimes committed by Russian forces in Syria.

In his remarks, the former Mayor of London, said: “Intentionally attacking a hospital amounts to a war crime, it is time for these entire incidence to be properly and fully investigated with the view that justice is done.”

Johnson, who was speaking in a Commons debate that heard senior Conservative MPs liken the Russian bombing to the Nazi bombardment of Guernica in the Spanish civil war, also endorsed recommendations made by a number of MP’s to prosecute Russian and Syrian forces in the International Criminal Court (ICC). “There will be advantage in the ICC procedures,” Johnson said.

He rejected calls for a no-fly zone saying: “We cannot commit to a no-fly zone unless we are prepared to confront and perhaps shoot down planes or helicopters that violate that zone. We need to think very carefully about the consequences.”

Responding to remarks that were made in the UK House of Commons about Russia, Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for Russia’s defence ministry, said that accusations by Johnson of a Russian attack on an aid convoy in Syria are “Russophobic hysteria”.

In a tweet, the Russian Embassy also criticised the comments, questioning the implications of the statements made by Johnson saying: “Britain’s logic implies putting an end to fighting terrorists and their allies. Our logic is different. Fight on to destroy the jihadists, sparing the civilians.”