Russia denies part in airstrike that killed 22 Syrian children

MOSCOW, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Russia on Thursday denied involvement in an airstrike in Syria's Idlib province in which at least 28 civilians -- mostly schoolchildren -- were killed.

UNICEF said 22 children and six teachers were killed by the airstrike, which monitoring and rescue groups said was carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime.

"Everyone has accused Russia and Syrian forces of the attack, saying directly that it was a bombardment carried out by Russia and Syria. This is a lie," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement. "Russia has nothing to do with this dreadful attack."

Zakharova called for international organizations to investigate the incident "without further delay." She also criticized media companies, citing Al Jazeera and The Independent by name, for reporting the incident as if Russia indeed carried out the attack.

The airstrike on Wednesday targeted the town of Haas in Idlib province in northwest Syria, about 35 miles southwest of the contested city of Aleppo.

UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake condemned the attack as a "tragedy."

"It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime. Children lost forever to their families ... teachers lost forever to their students .. one more scar on Syria's future," Lake said in a statement.

The Idlib attack was condemned by the U.N. Children's Rights & Emergency Relief Organization, which labeled it a potential "war crime." The group said it is likely the "deadliest attack on a school" since the beginning of the Syrian war.

The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Civil Defense Network, also known as the White Helmets, accused Russia and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime of carrying out the attack.

The Revolutionary Forces of Syria media office released a video it said shows the bombing on the town of Haas.

لحظة استهداف الطيران الروسي والأسدي بصواريخ محمولة بالمظلات بلدة #حاس في ريف #إدلب#RFShttps://t.co/eOWnUqoQZi pic.twitter.com/dfezgLkCzi

— إعلام قوى الثورة (@RFS_mediaoffice) October 26, 2016