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| Syria conflict: Two hospitals hit in new air strikes | Syria conflict: Two hospitals hit in new air strikes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two hospitals have been hit in new air strikes in northern Syria, medics and witnesses say, causing a number of deaths and injuries. | Two hospitals have been hit in new air strikes in northern Syria, medics and witnesses say, causing a number of deaths and injuries. |
| In Azaz on the Turkish border, at least 10 people reportedly died, including several in one hospital building. | In Azaz on the Turkish border, at least 10 people reportedly died, including several in one hospital building. |
| Medecins Sans Frontieres said seven people died and eight are missing after another attack in Maarat al-Numan. | Medecins Sans Frontieres said seven people died and eight are missing after another attack in Maarat al-Numan. |
| MSF blamed pro-Syrian government forces for the raid in Maarat al-Numan; Turkey blamed Russia for the Azaz strike. | |
| The strikes come days after Russia and other world powers agreed to a limited cessation of hostilities in Syria. | The strikes come days after Russia and other world powers agreed to a limited cessation of hostilities in Syria. |
| Almost five years of civil war in Syria have led to the deaths of more than 250,000 people. More than 11 million people have been displaced. | Almost five years of civil war in Syria have led to the deaths of more than 250,000 people. More than 11 million people have been displaced. |
| Live updates: Hospitals hit as tensions mount | |
| Syria: The story of the conflict | Syria: The story of the conflict |
| Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds: What's going on? | Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds: What's going on? |
| Turkish threat | Turkish threat |
| It has not been confirmed who carried out the latest attacks. | It has not been confirmed who carried out the latest attacks. |
| However, Mego Terzian, president of MSF France, said the Maarat al-Numan strikes were carried out by forces "loyal to President Bashar al-Assad". | However, Mego Terzian, president of MSF France, said the Maarat al-Numan strikes were carried out by forces "loyal to President Bashar al-Assad". |
| He told Reuters: "There were at least seven deaths among the personnel and the patients, and at least eight MSF personnel have disappeared, and we don't know if they are alive." | He told Reuters: "There were at least seven deaths among the personnel and the patients, and at least eight MSF personnel have disappeared, and we don't know if they are alive." |
| Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said a Russian ballistic missile had hit buildings in Azaz, with children among the dead. | Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said a Russian ballistic missile had hit buildings in Azaz, with children among the dead. |
| Associated Press reported that five people had died at the children's hospital. | Associated Press reported that five people had died at the children's hospital. |
| One medic, Juma Rahal, told the Reuters news agency: "We have been moving scores of screaming children from the hospital." | One medic, Juma Rahal, told the Reuters news agency: "We have been moving scores of screaming children from the hospital." |
| Several more people were killed in an air raid on a nearby village, AP reported. | Several more people were killed in an air raid on a nearby village, AP reported. |
| Russia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria since September in support of President Assad and against what it terms "terrorists". | Russia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria since September in support of President Assad and against what it terms "terrorists". |
| The strategic supply corridor - Selin Gerit, BBC Turkish | The strategic supply corridor - Selin Gerit, BBC Turkish |
| Azaz and Tal Rifat are on the corridor stretching from the Turkish border to the city of Aleppo. This is the supply route, the lifeline for the anti-Assad rebels in the area, as it serves as a land bridge to Turkey. | Azaz and Tal Rifat are on the corridor stretching from the Turkish border to the city of Aleppo. This is the supply route, the lifeline for the anti-Assad rebels in the area, as it serves as a land bridge to Turkey. |
| The route faces threats from various sides. To the east, the so-called Islamic State group, to the west the Syrian Kurds and to the south the Assad forces. | The route faces threats from various sides. To the east, the so-called Islamic State group, to the west the Syrian Kurds and to the south the Assad forces. |
| Tal Rifat is 20km (12 miles) from the Turkish border. Azaz just 7km. Halfway between the two is the Mennagh air base, now captured by Syrian Kurds. | Tal Rifat is 20km (12 miles) from the Turkish border. Azaz just 7km. Halfway between the two is the Mennagh air base, now captured by Syrian Kurds. |
| Turkey says the Kurds have to retreat. Otherwise its shelling of their positions will continue. | Turkey says the Kurds have to retreat. Otherwise its shelling of their positions will continue. |
| A Kurdish capture of Azaz and Tal Rifat - and the fall of the supply corridor - could change things dramatically. Turkey could indeed become directly involved. | A Kurdish capture of Azaz and Tal Rifat - and the fall of the supply corridor - could change things dramatically. Turkey could indeed become directly involved. |
| Azaz has seen an influx of thousands of people fleeing advances by the Russian-backed Syrian army in Aleppo province. | Azaz has seen an influx of thousands of people fleeing advances by the Russian-backed Syrian army in Aleppo province. |
| The Kurdish YPG militia, which has been making advances in the area, has also targeted Azaz. | The Kurdish YPG militia, which has been making advances in the area, has also targeted Azaz. |
| Turkey has shelled Kurdish positions since the weekend and on Monday promised the "harshest reaction" if the forces tried to take the town. | |
| Turkey views the YPG militia in Syria as allied to the outlawed PKK, which has carried out a decades-long campaign for Kurdish autonomy within Turkey. | Turkey views the YPG militia in Syria as allied to the outlawed PKK, which has carried out a decades-long campaign for Kurdish autonomy within Turkey. |
| Syria said the Turkish shelling was a violation of its sovereignty and has called on the UN Security Council to act. | Syria said the Turkish shelling was a violation of its sovereignty and has called on the UN Security Council to act. |
| 'Deliberate attack' | 'Deliberate attack' |
| MSF said four rockets had hit the hospital in Maarat al-Numan, a rebel-held town about 30km (20 miles) south of the city of Idlib, within minutes of each other on Monday morning. | MSF said four rockets had hit the hospital in Maarat al-Numan, a rebel-held town about 30km (20 miles) south of the city of Idlib, within minutes of each other on Monday morning. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group which relies on a network of sources on the ground, said nine people were killed, including a child. The raid also left dozens of others wounded, it added. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group which relies on a network of sources on the ground, said nine people were killed, including a child. The raid also left dozens of others wounded, it added. |
| "This appears to be a deliberate attack on a health structure, and we condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms," said Massimiliano Rebaudengo, MSF's head of mission in Syria. | "This appears to be a deliberate attack on a health structure, and we condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms," said Massimiliano Rebaudengo, MSF's head of mission in Syria. |
| "The destruction of the hospital leaves the local population of around 40,000 people without access to medical services in an active zone of conflict." | "The destruction of the hospital leaves the local population of around 40,000 people without access to medical services in an active zone of conflict." |
| The 30-bed hospital, which MSF had been supporting since September 2015, had 54 staff, two operating theatres, an outpatients department an emergency room. | The 30-bed hospital, which MSF had been supporting since September 2015, had 54 staff, two operating theatres, an outpatients department an emergency room. |
| Syria's health facilities targeted | Syria's health facilities targeted |
| MSF, which operates medical facilities inside Syria and supports directly more than 150 others, said last week that attacks were further depleting Syria's already exhausted healthcare system and preventing more people from accessing desperately needed medical care. | MSF, which operates medical facilities inside Syria and supports directly more than 150 others, said last week that attacks were further depleting Syria's already exhausted healthcare system and preventing more people from accessing desperately needed medical care. |
| Since the start of this year alone, 14 health facilities in Syria have been hit, which MSF said confirmed that hospitals and clinics were no longer places where patients could recover in safety. | Since the start of this year alone, 14 health facilities in Syria have been hit, which MSF said confirmed that hospitals and clinics were no longer places where patients could recover in safety. |
| Last Thursday in Munich, world leaders pledged to work towards a cessation of hostilities in Syria within a week, | Last Thursday in Munich, world leaders pledged to work towards a cessation of hostilities in Syria within a week, |
| But Russia argues that the "cessation" does not apply to its air strikes, which have tilted the balance of the war in favour of the Syrian government. | But Russia argues that the "cessation" does not apply to its air strikes, which have tilted the balance of the war in favour of the Syrian government. |