In blatant violation of the cease-fire agreement in place since December 29, 2016, the Assad regime and Russian forces continue with their systematic, deliberate targeting of hospitals and medical centers in the liberated areas across Syria.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the Syrian Coalition said that the Russian air force on Thursday bombed three hospitals in rural Idlib and Rural Damascus with vacuum bombs on Thursday, killing and injuring members of the medical staff as well as patients and civilians.
The attacks brought the number of bombed hospitals in April to 11. “According to preliminary information, Russian jets in the early morning hours of Thursday bombed two hospitals in the towns of Maarzeita and Aldair Alsharqi in rural Idlib, putting them out of service. The Russian jets also struck the only remaining field hospital in the town of Jisreen in Rural Damascus on Thursday,” the Coalition said.
The Coalition added: “Hospitals and medical facilities have been a constant target for the Assad regime and the Russian occupation forces which significantly intensified their attacks in April.”
“The deliberate, systematic targeting of medical facilities is clearly aimed at killing any semblance of life in the liberated areas. In addition to constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity, these attacks blatantly violates the ceasefire agreement and UN Security Council resolutions 2268 and 2254.”
The Coalition also said that “health and ambulance workers in Idlib province are working in extraordinarily difficult conditions, setting a shining example to the rest of us in dedication and sacrifice. They continue their work despite being fully aware that the world has abandoned them to their fate.”
The Coalition held both the Assad regime and the Russian and Iranian occupation forces fully responsible for the continuous targeting of hospitals and medical facilities in Syria. It also reminded the international community and humanitarian and legal organizations of their responsibility to put an end to these violations and crimes. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
