This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/the-latest-missile-hits-hospital-in-north-syria-killing-10/2016/02/15/cf5f9da2-d3d5-11e5-a65b-587e721fb231_story.html
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| The Latest: UN says Syria strikes kill close to 50 | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BEIRUT — The latest on the civil war in Syria (all times local): | BEIRUT — The latest on the civil war in Syria (all times local): |
| 8:30 p.m. | |
| U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says close to 50 civilians have been killed and many more wounded in missile attacks on at least five medical facilities and two schools in northern Syria. | |
| U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Monday that victims of the attacks included children. | |
| He quotes the secretary-general as calling the attacks “blatant violations of international laws” that “are further degrading an already devastated health care system and preventing access to education in Syria.” | |
| Haq quoted Ban as saying the attacks “cast a shadow on commitments” made by nations seeking to end the Syrian conflict at a conference in Munich on Feb. 11, which included a cessation of hostilities within a week and an end to attacks on civilians. | |
| ___ | |
| 8:20 p.m. | |
| The European Union’s top diplomat has condemned a deadly attack on a clinic in northern Syria run by the medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Monday that the attack “is completely unacceptable,” but said nothing about who was responsible. | |
| The organization, also known by its French acronym MSF, said the airstrike had killed seven people and that another eight are presumed dead. | |
| Speaking after chairing talks between EU foreign ministers, Mogherini said they underlined that all hostilities must end, apart from specific action targeting the Islamic State group and Al Nusra Front. | |
| ___ | |
| 8 p.m. | 8 p.m. |
| The U.N. special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has arrived in the Syrian capital for talks with officials. | The U.N. special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has arrived in the Syrian capital for talks with officials. |
| De Mistura refused to speak with reporters upon his arrival in Damascus on Monday evening for a one-day visit. | De Mistura refused to speak with reporters upon his arrival in Damascus on Monday evening for a one-day visit. |
| He is expected to meet with officials Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in the war-torn country and his efforts to restart peace talks in Geneva by the end of the month. | He is expected to meet with officials Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in the war-torn country and his efforts to restart peace talks in Geneva by the end of the month. |
| Indirect peace talks between representatives of the government and the opposition collapsed in Geneva after just two days earlier this month, largely because of a major offensive launched by Russian-backed government forces in Aleppo. | Indirect peace talks between representatives of the government and the opposition collapsed in Geneva after just two days earlier this month, largely because of a major offensive launched by Russian-backed government forces in Aleppo. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 7:15 p.m. | 7:15 p.m. |
| The head of the U.N. children’s agency says he is “appalled” at reports of attacks on four medical facilities in Syria — two supported by UNICEF. | The head of the U.N. children’s agency says he is “appalled” at reports of attacks on four medical facilities in Syria — two supported by UNICEF. |
| UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said Monday that one facility was a child and maternal hospital where children were reportedly killed and scores evacuated. | UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said Monday that one facility was a child and maternal hospital where children were reportedly killed and scores evacuated. |
| He says two strikes took place in the northern city of Azaz and two in the Idlib province, where one hospital was reportedly struck four times. | He says two strikes took place in the northern city of Azaz and two in the Idlib province, where one hospital was reportedly struck four times. |
| He says there are also reports that two schools were attacked at Azaz, reportedly killing six children. | He says there are also reports that two schools were attacked at Azaz, reportedly killing six children. |
| Lake says a third of hospitals and a quarter of schools in Syria are no longer functioning. | Lake says a third of hospitals and a quarter of schools in Syria are no longer functioning. |
| Aside from diplomatic considerations and obligations under international humanitarian law, Lake said, “let us remember that these victims are children. Children.” | Aside from diplomatic considerations and obligations under international humanitarian law, Lake said, “let us remember that these victims are children. Children.” |
| ___ | ___ |
| 6:15 p.m. | 6:15 p.m. |
| A Turkish official says Ankara received with astonishment Washington calls on Turkey to hold fire against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Syria. | A Turkish official says Ankara received with astonishment Washington calls on Turkey to hold fire against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Syria. |
| U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday called Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to address the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in northern Syria. | U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday called Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to address the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in northern Syria. |
| During that call, according to a White House transcript, Biden emphasized the need for de-escalation and urged Turkey to cease artillery strikes in the area. | During that call, according to a White House transcript, Biden emphasized the need for de-escalation and urged Turkey to cease artillery strikes in the area. |
| He also said the U.S. was pressuring Syrian Kurdish forces from exploiting circumstances to seize additional territory near the Turkish border. | He also said the U.S. was pressuring Syrian Kurdish forces from exploiting circumstances to seize additional territory near the Turkish border. |
| Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic told reporters such statements were received “with astonishment” ‘’because they put U.S. “ally Turkey and a terrorist organization in the same equation.” | Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic told reporters such statements were received “with astonishment” ‘’because they put U.S. “ally Turkey and a terrorist organization in the same equation.” |
| ___ | ___ |
| 5 p.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Doctors Without Borders says an attack on a clinic in northern Syria supported by the group has killed seven people and that another eight are presumed dead. | Doctors Without Borders says an attack on a clinic in northern Syria supported by the group has killed seven people and that another eight are presumed dead. |
| The international medical charity, also known by its French acronym MSF, said in a statement released Monday that the hospital in the northwestern town of Maaret al-Numan was hit by four missiles a few minutes apart that destroyed the building. | The international medical charity, also known by its French acronym MSF, said in a statement released Monday that the hospital in the northwestern town of Maaret al-Numan was hit by four missiles a few minutes apart that destroyed the building. |
| The group says five patients were killed, as well as a caretaker and a hospital guard. The eight missing are all hospital staff. It says other patients are still missing, but did not have an exact number. | The group says five patients were killed, as well as a caretaker and a hospital guard. The eight missing are all hospital staff. It says other patients are still missing, but did not have an exact number. |
| The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the attack was carried out by Russian warplanes. It says nine people were killed, including a nurse and eight civilians. | The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the attack was carried out by Russian warplanes. It says nine people were killed, including a nurse and eight civilians. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 2:40 p.m. | 2:40 p.m. |
| Turkey says Kurdish forces have been expelled from areas around the northern Syrian town of Azaz after a weekend of cross-border shelling. | Turkey says Kurdish forces have been expelled from areas around the northern Syrian town of Azaz after a weekend of cross-border shelling. |
| Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday vowed the “harshest reaction” should the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, advance on Azaz, a town near the border held by Syrian rebels. | Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday vowed the “harshest reaction” should the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, advance on Azaz, a town near the border held by Syrian rebels. |
| Kurdish-led forces had recently gained ground along the border with Turkey at the expense of the rebels, who have been struggling to hold ground amid a massive offensive by Syrian government forces backed by Russian airstrikes. | Kurdish-led forces had recently gained ground along the border with Turkey at the expense of the rebels, who have been struggling to hold ground amid a massive offensive by Syrian government forces backed by Russian airstrikes. |
| Davutoglu says “we won’t let Azaz fall,” adding that “the whole world should know this.” | Davutoglu says “we won’t let Azaz fall,” adding that “the whole world should know this.” |
| Turkey described its cross-border shelling as a retaliatory measure. | Turkey described its cross-border shelling as a retaliatory measure. |
| European Union officials are calling on Turkey to halt its military action in Syria in the hope of implementing a plan to cease hostilities. | European Union officials are calling on Turkey to halt its military action in Syria in the hope of implementing a plan to cease hostilities. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 1:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. |
| Opposition activists say a missile has struck a children’s hospital in a north Syrian town, killing at least 10 people and wounding dozens. | Opposition activists say a missile has struck a children’s hospital in a north Syrian town, killing at least 10 people and wounding dozens. |
| The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the missile hit the hospital in the town of Azaz near the Turkish border on Monday, killing 10 and wounding more than 30. | The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the missile hit the hospital in the town of Azaz near the Turkish border on Monday, killing 10 and wounding more than 30. |
| Activist Bahaa al-Halaby who is based in the northern city of Aleppo says it was a ballistic missile. | Activist Bahaa al-Halaby who is based in the northern city of Aleppo says it was a ballistic missile. |
| The Observatory says the dead include three children and a pregnant woman. | The Observatory says the dead include three children and a pregnant woman. |
| Syrian troops have been on the offensive in northern Syria under the cover of Russian airstrikes since Feb. 1. | Syrian troops have been on the offensive in northern Syria under the cover of Russian airstrikes since Feb. 1. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 9:40 a.m. | 9:40 a.m. |
| A spokeswoman for an international aid agency says a makeshift clinic supported by Doctors Without Borders has been destroyed by an airstrike in northern Syria. | A spokeswoman for an international aid agency says a makeshift clinic supported by Doctors Without Borders has been destroyed by an airstrike in northern Syria. |
| Mirella Hodeib says her group, also known by its French acronym MSF, had no immediate word on casualties from Monday’s airstrike in the town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province. | Mirella Hodeib says her group, also known by its French acronym MSF, had no immediate word on casualties from Monday’s airstrike in the town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province. |
| The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian warplanes targeted the makeshift hospital, destroying it and killing and wounding dozens. | The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian warplanes targeted the makeshift hospital, destroying it and killing and wounding dozens. |
| An aid official says at least one patient died and nine Syrian staffers are missing. The official was not authorized to talk to reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity. | An aid official says at least one patient died and nine Syrian staffers are missing. The official was not authorized to talk to reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity. |
| Syrian troops have been on the offensive in northern Syria under the cover of Russian airstrikes. | Syrian troops have been on the offensive in northern Syria under the cover of Russian airstrikes. |
| Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |