Russia says its embassy in Syria shelled, no injuries

By

The Associated Press

FILE – In this Feb. 7, 2012 file photo, Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after talks in Damascus, Syria. Lavrov said Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, that Russian aircraft flying into Syria have been delivering weapons along with humanitarian supplies. (AP Photo/Pool, File)

MOSCOW — Russia says that its embassy in Damascus has come under shelling that hasn’t inflicted any casualties or damage — an attack that comes amid ongoing Russian military buildup in Syria.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said a mine fired from a mortar landed on the territory of the embassy Sunday. It said the projectile was later removed by the Syrian military.

The ministry strongly condemned the attack, saying in a statement released Monday that it expects the international community to denounce it.

It said that the attack came from militants supported by unidentified “foreign sponsors.”

Russia has ferried weapons, troops and supplies to an airport near the Syrian coastal city of Latakia in what the U.S. sees as preparations for setting up an air base there.