The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said that nine people were killed in around 45 attacks on medical centers and civil defense centers across Syria in January.
In a report detailing attacks on medical and civil defense personnel in Syria in January, the monitoring group said that attacks by the Assad regime forces killed a nurse, a paramedic and a civil defense worker as well other medical personnel, while the Russian forces killed a doctor, a civilian defense worker, and and a nurse. The ISIS extremist group killed a female dentist in the same month.
According to the report, Russian forces targeted at least 20 medical and civil defense centers in January, including eight medical facilities, five ambulances, and seven civil defense centers. Assad regime forces bombed 16 centers, including eight medical centers, two ambulances, and six civil defense centers.
The Network pointed out that it recorded attacks on three medical facilities, two ambulances, a Red Crescent center, and a civil defense center by militant groups the rights group said it was not able identify. The Network added that it recorded attacks by militia of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on two health facilities.
The United Nations earlier said that it recorded 112 attacks on health facilities in Syria in 2017. It also said that it recorded no fewer than 13 similar attacks in January.
The Network concluded its report by calling on the UN Security Council to force the Assad regime to implement UN Security Council resolution 2139 and to condemn the targeting of vital civilian centers.
January saw a significant military escalation by the Russian and Assad regime forces in the provinces of Aleppo, Idlib and Rural Damascus. The Assad regime and Russian air forces used internationally banned and indiscriminate weapons such poison gas, napalm, and cluster bombs in airstrikes on rebel-held areas, killing and injuring hundreds of civilians and forcing thousands more out of their homes. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
