Russia ‘acting like the Nazis’ in Syria says former Tory minister

A former British cabinet minister has described Russia's actions in Syria as being no different to how the Nazis acted during World War Two, as the House of Commons holds an emergency debate on Syria this afternoon. 

Andrew Mitchell, the former international development minister, made an impassioned speech on Monday calling for an urgent discussion on the "unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo and more widely across Syria."

Mitchell in his speech also described Russia's actions in Syria as shredding the "international rules-based systems of law," the same way the Nazis had "destroyed the League of Nations" during World War Two. 

He also accused Russia of deliberately targeting an aid convoy bound for residents living under siege in east Aleppo. 

Tuesday's debate in parliament was called by Mitchell and the Labour MP Alison McGovern, and comes as Syrian activists told Middle East Eye that Russian air strikes had killed eight people in Aleppo.

A bunker buster bombs fired from Russian warplanes had killed eight people and wounded 20 others in the east Aleppo neighbourhood of Bustan al-Qasr, activists said.

MPs are expected to discuss what the UK can do to ease the humanitarian crisis in besieged east Aleppo after the Syrian government escalated its bombing campaign against rebel groups in the divided city. 

The debate will also measure the support for a no-fly zone over parts of Syria and expected to last three hours. 

This will also be the first debate to discuss the situation in Syria after a ceasefire aimed at giving access to humanitarian aid into Syria fell through on 22 September. 

Since the ceasefire collapsed, the Syrian government has launched air strikes and a ground offensive to seize back areas from rebels in east Aleppo.  

Reuters on Monday reported that militia groups loyal to the Syrian government had taken control of nearly half of rebel held areas in east Aleppo. 

Bombardment from Syrian warplanes and the Russian air force also destroyed the city's largest hospital and water works which served more than 250,000 people. 

Monitoring groups have reported that at least 338 people have been killed since the end of the ceasefire with Russia deploying cluster munitions and incendiary bombs in built-up civilian areas. 

The US State Department last week said that more than 10,000 foreign fighters loyal to Bashar al-Assad were amassing outside east Aleppo in preparation for a renewed ground offensive to take control from the Syrian rebels.