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| Syria crisis: Hospital strike deliberate, says MSF | Syria crisis: Hospital strike deliberate, says MSF |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Seven people have died in an air strike on a Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in northern Syria, the organisation said, calling it a "deliberate" attack. | Seven people have died in an air strike on a Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in northern Syria, the organisation said, calling it a "deliberate" attack. |
| MSF said Syria's government or Russia was behind the raid in Maarat al-Numan. There has been no response from either. | MSF said Syria's government or Russia was behind the raid in Maarat al-Numan. There has been no response from either. |
| A further eight people are missing from the raid, the medical charity said. | A further eight people are missing from the raid, the medical charity said. |
| Separate strikes on a hospital in the same town, as well as on a hospital and school in Azaz, killed at least 12 people, activists and witnesses said. | Separate strikes on a hospital in the same town, as well as on a hospital and school in Azaz, killed at least 12 people, activists and witnesses said. |
| The raids in northern Syria come days after Russia and other world powers agreed to a limited cessation of hostilities, to begin later this week. | The raids in northern Syria come days after Russia and other world powers agreed to a limited cessation of hostilities, to begin later this week. |
| 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. |
| Hospitals hit as tensions mount: As it happened | Hospitals hit as tensions mount: As it happened |
| 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? |
| MSF anger | MSF anger |
| MSF said its hospital in Maarat al-Numan was hit by four missiles within minutes of each other. | MSF said its hospital in Maarat al-Numan was hit by four missiles within minutes of each other. |
| This "leads us to believe that... it wasn't an accidental attack, that it was deliberate," said Sam Taylor, the spokesman for MSF operations in Syria. | This "leads us to believe that... it wasn't an accidental attack, that it was deliberate," said Sam Taylor, the spokesman for MSF operations in Syria. |
| Mego Terzian, president of MSF France, told Reuters "either the [Syrian] government or Russia" was "clearly" responsible. | Mego Terzian, president of MSF France, told Reuters "either the [Syrian] government or Russia" was "clearly" responsible. |
| Monday's attack leaves tens of thousands without medical care in the town, the charity warned. | Monday's attack leaves tens of thousands without medical care in the town, the charity warned. |
| 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. |
| Another hospital in Maarat al-Numan was also hit, opposition group the Local Co-ordination Committees said, killing three people. | Another hospital in Maarat al-Numan was also hit, opposition group the Local Co-ordination Committees said, killing three people. |
| Hospital and school struck in Azaz | Hospital and school struck in Azaz |
| In Azaz, near the Turkish border, at least 12 people were killed in an attack on a children's hospital and school, according to activists and witnesses. | In Azaz, near the Turkish border, at least 12 people were killed in an attack on a children's hospital and school, according to activists and witnesses. |
| 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". |
| There has been no independent confirmation over who was behind either attack in Azaz or Maarat al-Numan. | There has been no independent confirmation over who was behind either attack in Azaz or Maarat al-Numan. |
| 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. |
| 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 Girit, BBC Turkish | The strategic supply corridor - Selin Girit, 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 in Syria's war. | 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 in Syria's war. |
| Turkish warning | Turkish warning |
| For a third day Turkey has shelled Kurdish forces in northern Syria trying to take Azaz. | For a third day Turkey has shelled Kurdish forces in northern Syria trying to take Azaz. |
| The Kurdish YPG militia has been making advances at the expense of other rebels stretched by a government offensive. | The Kurdish YPG militia has been making advances at the expense of other rebels stretched by a government offensive. |
| Ahmet Davutoglu promised the "harshest reaction" if the YPG tried to capture Azaz | Ahmet Davutoglu promised the "harshest reaction" if the YPG tried to capture Azaz |
| 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. |
| 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. |