:Russian–Syrian hospital bombing campaign
{{Short description|Series of attacks on hospitals by Syrian and Russian security forces}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Russian–Syrian hospital bombing campaign
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| partof = Syrian Civil War
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| date = September 2015 – 8 December 2024
| place = Syria
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| result = Inconclusive
- Campaign ended with the fall of the Assad regime
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| combatant1 = {{flag|Russia}}
{{flag|Ba'athist Syria|name=Syrian Arab Republic}}
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Medical facilities in FSA territory
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| strength1 = Warplanes
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During the Syrian Civil War, Russian and Syrian government forces have conducted a campaign that has focused on the destruction of hospitals and medical facilities within areas not under the control of the Syrian government. Russian and Syrian officials have repeatedly denied deliberately targeting medical facilities.
Background
{{Main|Russian involvement in the Syrian Civil War}}
Prior to Russian forces taking an active combat role in the Syrian Civil War, Syrian government forces had previously attacked medical facilities in areas not under their control, beginning in early 2012.{{cite news |last=Nebehay |first=Stephanie |date=13 September 2013 |title=Syria attacks hospitals, denies healthcare as 'weapon of war': U.N. |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-health-idUSBRE98C0NG20130913 |work=Reuters |access-date=6 April 2017 }} These attacks included one in August 2012,{{cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/08/15/syria-fighter-planes-strike-aleppo-hospital |title=Syria: Fighter Planes Strike Aleppo Hospital |author= |date=15 August 2012 |website=Human Rights Watch |access-date=31 March 2017}} and one in November 2012, both on the Dar al-Shifa Hospital in Aleppo.{{cite news |last=Cheikh Omar |first=Ammar |title=Dozens killed in attack on Aleppo hospital, Syrian rebel leader says |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/21/world/meast/syria-aleppo-hospital/ |work=CNN |location=United States |date=21 November 2012 |access-date=31 March 2017 }} United Nations investigators called the attacks systematic.{{cite news |last=Cumming-Bruce |first=Nick |date=13 September 2013 |title=U.N. Reports Syria Uses Hospital Attacks as a 'Weapon of War' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/14/world/middleeast/un-panel-accuses-syria-of-attacking-hospitals.html |work=New York Times |access-date=31 March 2017 }} China and Russia blocked a 2014 attempt to refer the Syrian government to the International Criminal Court. Physicians for Human Rights estimates that medical facilities were attacked over 300 times between March 2011 and August 2015, with 90% of attacks being conducted by Syrian government forces.{{Unbulleted list citebundle |{{cite news |last1=Chulov |first1=Martin |last2=Malik |first2=Shiv |date=22 October 2015 |title=Four Syrian hospitals bombed since Russian airstrikes began, doctors say |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/22/three-syrian-hospitals-bombed-since-russian-airstrikes-began-doctors-say |work=The Guardian |location=United Kingdom |access-date=7 April 2017 }} |{{cite news |last=Fahim |first=Kareem |date=22 October 2015 |title=Group Cites 7 Attacks on Hospitals Across Syria |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/23/world/middleeast/group-cites-7-attacks-on-hospitals-across-syria.html?_r=2 |work=New York Times |location=United States |access-date=7 April 2017 }} }}
= Russian withdrawal from UN agreement =
In June 2020, Russia announced its decision to quit a voluntary UN agreement that aims to protect hospitals, medical facilities and humanitarian aid deliveries in Syria; under which, the locations of such facilities were shared with the conflicting parties in a bid to prevent them from being targeted.[https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200626-russia-quits-un-agreement-which-protects-hospitals-in-syria/ Russia quits UN agreement which protects hospitals in Syria]. June 26, 2020. Middle East Monitor. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
Medical facilities attacked by Russian or Syrian forces in Syria
{{main|Russian military intervention in Syria}}
=2015–2018=
After Russia began military operations in Syria, aerial bombardment intensified. In 2015, there were more than 300 attacks on medical facilities by Syrian and Russian forces. From May to December 2016, medical facilities were attacked about 200 times by Russian and Syrian forces.{{cite news |last=Cook |first=Jesselyn |date=27 December 2016 |title=Syrian Medical Facilities Were Attacked More Than 250 Times This Year |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/syria-hospital-attacks_us_56c330f0e4b0c3c550528d2e |work=The World Post |location=New York City |publisher=Huffington Post and Berggruen Institute |access-date=31 March 2017 |quote=The rate of assaults doubled after Russia's military intervention in the conflict in September 2015, the medical society's figures show. And nearly 200 occurred after May 3, when the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution strongly condemning violence against those providing and receiving medical treatment in the country. }}
Hospitals in Aleppo were attacked multiple times. Before March 2016, more than six hospitals were attacked in the Aleppo Governorate.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Russia, Syria deliberately bombing hospitals — Amnesty |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-syria-deliberately-bombing-hospitals-amnesty/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=3 March 2016 |access-date=5 April 2017 |quote=He also noted that Syria's ambassador to Russia said the hospital was destroyed by the Americans. }} In April 2016, over two dozen were killed when a Russian airstrike hit a hospital;{{cite news |last1=Onyanga-Omara |first1=Jane |last2=Dorell |first2=Oren |date=28 April 2016 |title=At least 27 killed in airstrike on Syria hospital |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/04/28/doctors-without-borders-least-14-killed-airstrike-syria-hospital/83637946/ |work=USA Today |location=United States |access-date=6 April 2017 }} the hospital served as the area's primary pediatric care facility.{{cite news |author= |title=Children's Hospital Attacked in Syria |url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/pediatric-hospital-attacked-aleppo/ |work=WNYC |location=New York City |date=28 April 2016 |access-date=7 April 2017 }} In July 2016, M2 Hospital was attacked by aircraft. By the end of the month, six hospitals in Aleppo had been destroyed.{{cite news |last=Gutman |first=Roy |title=Assad and Putin's Sick Strategy Bombing Hospitals |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/27/assad-and-putin-s-sick-strategy-bombing-hospitals.html |work=The Daily Beast |location=United States |date=27 July 2016 |access-date=5 April 2017 }} In October 2016, M10 Hospital was attacked by airstrikes.{{Unbulleted list citebundle |{{cite news |author= |title=Syria conflict: Aleppo bombing shuts largest hospital |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37528260 |work=BBC |location=United Kingdom |date=2 October 2016 |access-date=31 March 2017 }} |{{cite news |author= |title=Bombs fall on Aleppo's largest hospital as Russia sends more warplanes to Syria |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/bombs-fall-on-aleppos-largest-hospital-as-russia-sends-more-warplanes-to-syria/ |work=Vice News |location=New York City |date=1 October 2016 |access-date=31 March 2017 }}|{{cite news |author= |date=1 October 2016 |title=Russia, Syrian army accused of destroying hospital, killing at least 2 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-syria-aleppo-bomb-jets-us-civil-war-1.3787569 |work=CBC |location=Canada |access-date=5 April 2017 }}}}
Hospital attacks were not limited to Aleppo. In October 2015, a Russian aircraft attacked a medical facility operated by the Syrian American Medical Society in the town of Sarmin.{{cite news |agency=AFP |date=21 October 2015 |title=13 dead as Russia strike hits Syria field hospital: monitor |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-air-strike-field-hospital-kills-13-155302808.html |work=Yahoo! News |location=United States |access-date=7 April 2017 |archive-date=19 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019131635/https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-air-strike-field-hospital-kills-13-155302808.html |url-status=dead }} In February 2016, a children's hospital was hit in Azaz; Russians claimed they targeted ISIL infrastructure.{{Unbulleted list citebundle |{{cite news |last1=Gurses |first1=Ercan |last2=Al-Khalidi |first2=Suleiman |title=Missiles in Syria kill 50 as schools, hospitals hit; Turkey accuses Russia |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idUSKCN0VO0H2 |work=Reuters |date=16 February 2016 |access-date=5 April 2017 }} |{{cite news |last=Sims |first=Alexandra |title=Syrian war: Suspected Russian air strikes destroy two hospitals – despite so-called Syria 'ceasefire' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/air-strike-destroys-syrian-medical-centre-a6874676.html |work=Independent |location=United Kingdom |date=15 February 2016 |access-date=5 April 2017 }}}} That same month two hospitals in Maarrat al-Nu'man were attacked by Syrian forces, one being a Doctors Without Borders supported facility;{{cite news |author= |date=16 February 2016 |title=Russia rejects Syria war crimes claim over hospital attacks |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35586886 |work=BBC News |location=United Kingdom |access-date=6 April 2017 }} Syria claimed that one of the attacks was done by American forces.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=16 February 2016 |title=U.S. and Russia both deny bombing Syrian clinic |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-syria-blame-us-airstrike-msf-hospital-clinic-idlib-aleppo-civilians/ |work=CBS |location=United States |access-date=7 April 2017 }} In July 2016, a hospital was attacked by Russian forces in Atarib. In August 2016, a medical facility was attacked once every 17 hours. One of these attacks was an attack on the last functioning hospital in Darayya;{{cite magazine |author= |title=The ultimate barbarity |url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21706225-dr-assad-turns-syrias-hospitals-death-traps-part-kneel-or-starve |magazine=The Economist |location=United Kingdom |publisher=Economist Group |date=3 September 2016 |access-date=7 April 2017 }} the attack was done with barrel bombs filled with napalm.{{cite news |last=Westcott |first=Lucy |date=19 August 2016 |title=Activists Report Napalm Attack on Last Remaining Hospital In Daraya, Syria |url=http://www.newsweek.com/daraya-hospital-napalm-attack-syria-activist-491921 |work=Newsweek |location=United States |access-date=7 April 2017 }} In April 2017, a hospital was attacked in Maarat al-Nu'man.{{cite news |author= |title=Syria: Rescue teams blame Russia for hospital bombing |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/video/news/2017/04/syria-rescue-teams-blame-russia-hospital-bombing-170404084122390.html |work=Al Jazeera |date=4 April 2017 |access-date=5 April 2017 }} After a chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun, a clinic treating those who were gassed was attacked by Syrian forces;{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Jennifer |title=Bashar al-Assad just gassed his own people, then bombed the clinic treating victims |url=https://www.vox.com/world/2017/4/4/15177166/bashar-al-assad-syria-posion-gas-attack-idlib-chemical-weapons-khan-sheikhoun |work=VOX |location=United States |date=5 April 2017 |access-date=6 April 2017 }} due to this event U.S. launched a missile strike against Shayrat Air Base.{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Phil |last2=Holland |first2=Steve |title=U.S. fires missiles at Assad airbase, escalating role in Syrian war |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKBN1782S0 |work=Reuters |date=7 April 2017 |access-date=6 April 2017 }}
In September 2017, Qasioun News reported that Syrian government warplanes carried out several airstrikes on Rahma Hospital in Khan Sheikhon city, southern Idlib, causing material damage to the building and causing the hospital to go out of service, as well as injuries among civilians. Furthermore, Syrian government warplanes carried out 3 airstrikes on Orient Hospital, near Kafranabl area, south of Idlib, but no casualties were reported.[https://www.iraqinews.com/arab-world-news/syrian-warplanes-bombard-2-hospitals-southern-idlib/ Syrian warplanes bombard 2 hospitals in Southern Idlib]. Iraqi News. Retrieved 25 September 2017. Also on same date, the Russian warplanes conducted airstrikes on al-Tah Hospital in the countryside of Idlib, killing two nurses and some patients, and inflicting heavy damage to the hospital, as well as causing some injuries among the doctors.[https://www.iraqinews.com/arab-world-news/russia-conducts-airstrikes-on-al-tah-hospital-2-nurses-killed/ Russia conducts airstrikes on al-Tah Hospital, 2 nurses killed]. Iraqi News. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
In October 2017, the ICRC said that up to 10 hospitals had been reportedly damaged in the past 10 days, cutting off hundreds of thousands of people from access to healthcare, voicing alarm at the situation from Raqqa to Idlib and eastern Ghouta. "For the past two weeks, we have seen an increasingly worrying spike in military operations that correlates with high levels of civilian casualties," Marianne Gasser, head of the ICRC's delegation in Syria, said.[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/syria-violence-worst-level-aleppo-icrc-171005104329409.html Syria violence at worst level since Aleppo: ICRC]. 5 October 2017. Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
Attacks on hospitals in Idlib continued into early 2018, following use of chemical weapons against areas controlled by forces opposed to the Syrian government.{{Unbulleted list citebundle |{{cite news |last=Abdulrahim |first=Raja |date=5 February 2018 |title=Syria Airstrikes Hit Hospitals in Rebel Territory |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/syria-airstrikes-hit-hospitals-in-rebel-territory-1517859408 |work=Wall Street Journal |location=United States |access-date=6 February 2018 }} |{{cite news |author= |date=5 February 2018 |title=Syria war: 'Chlorine attack' on rebel-held Idlib town |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42944033 |work=BBC News |location=United Kingdom |access-date=6 February 2018 }} |{{cite news |last=Corkery |first=Claire |date=5 February 2018 |title=Incubators for newborns shut down after airstrikes hit Idlib hospitals |url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/incubators-for-newborns-shut-down-after-airstrikes-hit-idlib-hospitals-1.702032 |work=The National |location=United Arab Eremites |access-date=6 February 2018 }} |{{cite news |last1=El Deeb |first1=Sarah |last2=Issa |first2=Philip |agency=The Associated Press |date=5 February 2018 |title=Syria, Russia step up airstrikes against rebel strongholds in last 24 hours |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/02/05/syrian-forces-russian-allies-hit-two-hospitals-during-airstrikes-activists-say.html |work=The Star |location=Toronto, Canada |access-date=6 February 2018 }}}} In April 2018, chemical weapons were used in an attack on a hospital in Douma;{{Unbulleted list citebundle |{{cite news |last=Hubbard |first=Ben |date=11 April 2018 |title=In a Syrian Town, People Started Shouting: 'Chemicals! Chemicals!' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/world/middleeast/syria-chemical-attack-douma.html |work=New York Times |location=United States |access-date=14 April 2018 }} |{{cite news |author= |agency=Reuters |date=8 April 2018 |title=Dozens reported killed in suspected Syria gas attack; Damascus denies |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/08/dozens-reported-killed-in-suspected-syria-gas-attack-damascus-denies.html |work=CNBC |location=United States |access-date=14 April 2018 }} |{{cite news |last=Shaheen |first=Kareem |date=8 April 2018 |title=Dozens killed in suspected chemical attack on Syrian rebel enclave |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/08/syrian-government-accused-of-chemical-attacks-on-civilians-in-eastern-ghouta |work=The Guardian |location=United Kingdom |access-date=14 April 2018 }} |{{cite news |author= |title=Dozens dead in suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria |url=http://www.dw.com/en/dozens-dead-in-suspected-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria/a-43296814 |work=Deutsche Welle |location=Germany |date=8 April 2018 |access-date=14 April 2018 }}}} the hospital had been supported by the Syrian American Medical Society.{{cite news |last1=Sly |first1=Liz |last2=Haidamous |first2=Suzan |last3=Ajroudi |first3=Asma |date=11 April 2018 |title=Nerve gas used in Syria attack, leaving victims 'foaming at the mouth,' evidence suggests |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/witness-to-syrian-chemical-attack-bodies-cold-and-stiff-mouths-foaming/2018/04/10/3787693c-3cc5-11e8-955b-7d2e19b79966_story.html?noredirect=on |work=Washington Post |location=United States |access-date=14 April 2018 }} Non-Russian and non-Syrian claims were that the chemical attack was carried out by Syrian forces.{{Unbulleted list citebundle |{{cite news |author= |title=Syria war: What we know about Douma 'chemical attack' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43697084 |work=BBC News |location=United Kingdom |date=14 April 2018 |access-date=14 April 2018 }} |{{cite news |last1=Loveluck |first1=Louisa |last2=Cunningham |first2=Erin |date=8 April 2018 |title=Dozens killed in apparent chemical weapons attack on civilians in Syria, rescue workers say |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/dozens-killed-in-apparent-chemical-weapons-attack-on-civilians-in-eastern-ghouta--rescue-workers/2018/04/08/231bba18-3ac0-11e8-af3c-2123715f78df_story.html |work=Washington Post |location=United States |access-date=14 April 2018 }} |{{cite news |last=Lusher |first=Adam |date=8 April 2018 |title=Syrian government accused of using nerve agents as death toll from Douma 'chemical weapons attack' rises |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-chemical-weapons-attack-latest-sarin-douma-eastern-ghouta-nerve-agent-chlorine-russia-us-uk-a8294741.html |work=Independent |location=United Kingdom |access-date=14 April 2018 }}}} The Syrian government denied conducting a chemical attack.{{cite news |author= |agency=Reuters |title=Scores of Syrians Killed in Suspected Chemical Attack by Assad Forces |url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/dozens-of-syrians-killed-in-suspected-chemical-attack-by-assad-forces-1.5978159 |work=Haaretz |location=Israel |date=8 April 2018 |access-date=14 April 2018 }} Russia denied that chemical weapons were used in Douma;{{cite news |author= |work=Reuters |title=Russia denies chemical weapons used in Syria's Douma, Ifax reports |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-ghouta-russia/russia-denies-chemical-weapons-used-in-syrias-douma-ifax-reports-idUSL8N1RL06R |date=8 April 2018 |access-date=14 April 2018 }} later it claimed that the attack was staged by the United Kingdom.{{Unbulleted list citebundle |{{cite news |last=Isachenkov |first=Vladimir |agency=Associated Press |title=Russia says suspected chemical attack in Syria was staged by UK |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russia-says-suspected-chemical-attack-in-syria-was-staged-by-uk |work=PBS NewsHour |location=United States |date=13 April 2018 |access-date=14 April 2018 }} |{{cite news |last=Steinbuch |first=Yaron |date=13 April 2018 |title=Russia claims Britain staged chemical attack in Syria |url=https://nypost.com/2018/04/13/russia-claims-britain-staged-chemical-attack-in-syria/ |work=New York Post |location=United States |access-date=14 April 2018 }}}} As a result of the attack on Douma, Israeli aircraft attacked an air base in Syria on 9 April;{{Unbulleted list citebundle |{{cite news |last=Neuman |first=Scott |title=Russia, Syria: Israeli Jets Strike Air Base After Alleged Poison Gas Attack In Douma |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/09/600765750/russia-syria-israeli-jets-strike-air-base-after-alleged-poison-gas-attack-in-dou |work=NPR |location=United States |date=9 April 2018 |access-date=14 April 2018 }} |{{cite news |last1=Borger |first1=Julian |last2=Sheehen |first2=Kareem |date=9 April 2018 |title=Syria and Russia accuse Israel of missile attack on Assad airbase |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/09/syrian-airbase-near-homs-hit-by-air-strikes-state-tv-says |work=The Guardian |location=United Kingdom |access-date=14 April 2018 }} }} French, British, and American forces attacked targets in Syria on 14 April.{{Unbulleted list citebundle |{{cite news |last1=Tibon |first1=Amir |last2=Khoury |first2=Jack |last3=Landau |first3=Nao |date=14 April 2018 |title=U.S., France and U.K. Strike Syria Over Chemical Attack |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/trump-approves-precision-strikes-in-syria-explosions-near-damascus-1.5995358 |work=Haaretz |location=Israel |access-date=14 April 2018 }} | {{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Chris |last2=Riley-Smith |first2=Ben |last3=Sabur |first3=Rozina |last4=Henderson |first4=Barney |date=14 April 2018 |title=Syria airstrikes: America, Britain and France target Assad's chemical facilities in aerial barrage – latest news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/14/syria-airstrikes-donald-trump-set-make-announcement-military/ |work=Telegraph |location=United Kingdom |access-date=14 April 2018 }} | {{cite news |author= |title=US, France, Britain launch strikes on Syria |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-france-britain-launch-strikes-on-syria-130298 |work=Hurriyet Daily News |location=Turkey |date=14 April 2018 |access-date=14 April 2018 }}}}
=2019–present=
The UN humanitarian office said that, between late April and June 2019, a total of 24 health facilities and 35 schools were hit by the Syrian government and Russian air raids and rocket fire on the Idlib region.{{cite news |author= |title=Syrian air strikes kill civilians in besieged Idlib |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/syrian-air-strikes-kill-civilians-besieged-idlib-190606070809591.html |work=Al Jazeera |location=Qatar |date=6 June 2019 |access-date=3 July 2019 }} The coordinates of nine of those health facilities were shared with the UN, which passed them to Russia in an effort to protect them from being bombed and encourage some form of accountability for attacks. Instead, they also came under fire.{{Unbulleted list citebundle |{{cite web|title=Syria: at least 15 hospitals targeted in Idlib and Hama since beginning of May |url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/syria-least-15-hospitals-targeted-idlib-and-hama-beginning-may| work=Amnesty International| date=17 May 2019 |access-date=27 July 2019 }} |{{cite web|title=Idlib: Millions in Need of Protection. The World Must Act Now |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2018/08/idleb-millions-in-need-of-protection-world-must-act-now/| work=Amnesty International| date=17 May 2019 |access-date=27 July 2019 }} }} On 15 May 2019, Syrian government forces bombed the Tarmala Maternity and Children's Hospital in South Idlib, completely destroying the facility, which had served about 6,000 people a month. According to the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations, it was the 19th health-care facility bombed in Syria since 28 April.{{cite news |last=Cole |first=Diane |title=In Syria, Reports Of 19 Medical Facilities Bombed Since April 28 |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/05/17/724281900/in-syria-reports-of-19-medical-facilities-bombed-since-april-28 |work=National Public Radio |location=United States |date=17 May 2019 |access-date=3 July 2019 }}.
Assembled a large body of evidence such as social media posts from Syria, interviews with witnesses, records from charities, Russian Air Force radio recordings, and plane-spotter logs, The New York Times reported that, within 12 hours from 5 to 6 May 2019, four hospitals in southern Idlib province were attacked and the bombings were traced and tied Russian pilots to each one, and the audio recordings featured Russian pilots confirming each bombing.{{cite web|title=Russia 'bombed four hospitals in Syria in four hours', report finds |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/russia-syria-bomb-hospitals-war-kurds-putin-assad-idlib-a9153786.html| work=The Independent| date=13 October 2019 |access-date=11 February 2020 }} These hospitals were Nabad al Hayat Surgical Hospital, Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital, Kafr Zita Cave Hospital, and Al Amal Orthopedic Hospital.
In October 2019, The New York Times published a story that proved that Russian forces deliberately bombed four hospitals in opposition-held Idlib province in May 2019.[https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-cave-the-female-syrian-doctor-risking-death-to-run-an-underground-hospital As Bombings Destroyed Syria, She Moved Her Hospital Underground]. 17 October 2019. Daily Beast. Retrieved 2 June 2020. Dr. Amani Ballour, a Syrian pediatrician, worked at a secret underground hospital in East Ghouta known as the Cave, said the hospital was bombed by Russian warplanes on 28 September 2015, killing three male nurses and injuring two female nurses. Since 2016, the staffs did everything they could to shore up the infrastructure above and below ground so it could withstand bombings. During the final month of the Cave, the site was hit five or six times by barrel bombs.[https://news.yahoo.com/hospital-bombed-putin-assad-why-091050197.html My Hospital Was Bombed by Putin and Assad. Why Won't America Hear Our Cries?]. 1 November 2019. Yahoo via Daily Beast. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
In February 2020, Russian warplanes hit two hospitals, as well as residential areas, in the northern town of Darat Izza near the Turkish border, wounding civilians and forcing the medical facilities to close.[https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/russian-airstrikes-target-2-hospitals-in-syrias-aleppo/1736526 Russian airstrikes target 2 hospitals in Syria's Aleppo]. February 17, 2020. AA. Retrieved August 19, 2020 At this time, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that over half of the country's health facilities had been damaged or destroyed since the start of the civil war in 2011.
In May 2020, Amnesty International documented 18 attacks on civilian facilities, including medical facilities, by either the Syrian government or Russia between 5 May 2019 and 25 February 2020 in and adjoining the opposition stronghold in northwest Syria.{{Cite web|url= https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/amnesty-accuses-damascus-moscow-of-war-crimes-in-syria-36215 |title= Amnesty accuses Damascus, Moscow of 'war crimes' in Syria. }} The report which contained 40 pages revealed thoroughly how the Syrian government forces intentionally attacked civilian facilities such as schools and hospitals. Among the documented attacks were Russian air strikes near a hospital in the town of Ariha on 29 January that flattened at least two residential buildings and killed 11 civilians.
Casualties
Physicians for Human Rights (a New York City-based NGO), an advocacy group that monitored attacks on medical workers in Syria, documented at least 583 such attacks since 2011 to October 2019, 266 of them since Russia intervened in September 2015, and at least 916 medical workers were killed since 2011 till the date of the report.
International reaction
The attacks on hospitals have been described as a "sophisticated strategy" in The Interpreter.{{cite news |author= |title=Why Russia Is Bombing Hospitals In Syria |url=http://www.interpretermag.com/why-russia-is-bombing-hospitals-in-syria/ |work=The Interpreter |location=New York City |date=16 February 2016 |access-date=5 April 2017 }} Medics in the rebel-held area have been forced underground in order to survive.
In October 2015, the United States Department of State Spokesman John Kirby said that hospitals in Syria were attacked by Russian forces.{{cite news |agency=Reuters |title=Russian bombing hits Syrian hospital: US |url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/russian-bombing-hits-syrian-hospital-us-20151030-gkms7q.html |work=Sydney Morning Herald |location=Australia |date=30 October 2015 |access-date=7 April 2017 }} In February 2016, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Charles Q. Brown Jr. said that Russia was responsible for attacking hospitals in Syria.{{cite news |last=Engel |first=Pamela |date=21 February 2016 |title=People are 'too afraid to go to hospitals' in Syria — and it signals Russia's gruesome endgame in the war |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/hospital-attacks-syria-russia-2016-2 |work=Business Insider |location=New York City |access-date=7 April 2017 }} In late September 2016, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said attacks on hospitals in Aleppo constituted war crimes,{{cite news |agency=AFP |date=29 September 2016 |title=Syria hospital attacks are 'war crimes': Ban Ki-moon |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/syria-hospital-attacks-are-war-crimes-ban-ki-moon-116092900013_1.html |work=Business Standard |location=New Delhi |access-date=7 April 2017 }} and the UN repeatedly accused the Syrian government and Russian warplanes of conducting a deadly campaign that appears to target medical facilities.[https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-49669939/syria-war-idlib-s-secret-hospitals-hiding-from-air-strikes Syria war: Idlib's secret hospitals hiding from air strikes]. 12 September 2019. BBC. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
In October 2016, the United States ended direct contact with Russians involved in a campaign against ISIL, to which Russia suspended an agreement it had with the U.S. regarding the reduction of plutonium.{{cite news |last1=Borger |first1=Julian |last2=Chulov |first2=Martin |date=3 October 2016 |title=US suspends Syria talks with Russia over bombing of rebel-held areas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/03/us-russia-syria-bombing-campaign-aleppo |work=Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |access-date=31 March 2017 }} In November 2016, then-National Security Advisor Susan Rice issued a warning to Syria and Russia regarding repeated bombings of hospitals.{{cite news |last=Fatzick |first=Joshua |title=White House Scolds Russia, Syria for Aleppo Hospital Bombings |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/white-house-scolds-russia-syria-for-aleppo-hospital-bombing/3603754.html |work=Voice of America |location=United States |date=19 November 2016 |access-date=5 April 2017 }} In February 2017, the Atlantic Council issued a report documenting Russian bombings of hospitals during the campaign to take Aleppo, which Russia has denied.{{cite news |first=Michael R. |last=Gordon |title=Report Rebuts Russia's Claims of Restraint in Syrian Bombing Campaign |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/12/us/politics/russia-syria-aleppo-bombing-campaign-restraint.html?_r=0 |work=New York Times |date=12 February 2017 |access-date=31 March 2017 }} The report also documented the use of chemical weapons by forces supporting the Syrian government.{{cite news |last=Reevel |first=Patrick |date=13 February 2017 |title=Report suggests Russia tried to conceal airstrikes on Syrian hospitals |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/report-suggests-russia-conceal-airstrikes-syrian-hospitals/story?id=45458752 |work=ABC News |location=United States |access-date=6 April 2017 }}
In early June 2019, after more than 20 hospitals in Syria's north-west were targeted, dozens of prominent doctors – include Denis Mukwege, Peter Agre, Sarah Wollaston, Terence English, David Nott, and Zaher Sahloul – called for urgent action to halt the bombing campaign by Syrian and Russian planes, urging the UN to investigate the targeting of listed hospitals and asked the international community to put pressure on Russia and Syria to stop targeting medical centers and reverse funding cuts to surviving hospitals and clinics that were now overwhelmed by refugees.{{cite news |last1=Graham-Harrison |first1=Emma |last2=McKernan |first2=Bethan |title=Stop the carnage: doctors call for an end to Syria hospital airstrikes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/02/doctors-global-appeal-stop-syria-bombing-hospitals-idlib |work=The Guardian |location=United Kingdom |date=2 June 2019 |access-date=3 July 2019 }} Dr Mohamed Zahid, from Physicians Across Continents, a medical organisation working in Syria, said that doctors working in rebel-held northern Syria will no longer share the locations of medical facilities with the United Nations after doing so failed to stop them being targeted by airstrikes. He said "last year six hospitals were attacked, and this month another eight hospitals were attacked after their coordinates were shared with the UN. So most NGOs in Syria decided to stop this process."{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Richard |last2=Daragahi |first2=Borzou |title=Doctors in Idlib will no longer share coordinates of hospitals with UN after repeated attacks from Russian and Syrian forces |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-hospital-bombings-idlib-un-doctors-russia-assad-attack-a8942076.html |work=Independent |location=United Kingdom |date=3 June 2019 |access-date=3 July 2019 }} The UN secretary-general, António Guterres, opened an investigation into the hospital bombings in August 2019.
In October 2019, Susannah Sirkin, director of policy at Physicians for Human Rights, said "the attacks on health in Syria, as well as the indiscriminate bombing of civilian facilities, are definitely war crimes, and they should be prosecuted at the level of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. But Russia and China 'shamefully' vetoed a Security Council resolution that would have referred those and other crimes in Syria to the court."
In May 2020, based on the evidence gathered, Amnesty International said the Russian-Syrian attacks on medical facilities and other civilian infrastructure were in violation of several international humanitarian laws, which summed up to "war crimes."
The UN Director at Human Rights Watch, Louis Charbonneau, warned: "If Russia thinks this will help them escape accountability for war crimes, they're dead wrong. We and other groups will continue to investigate and document the deliberate bombings of hospitals and other grave crimes in Syria."
See also
References
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{{Syrian Civil War}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Russian-Syrian hospital bombing campaign}}
Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving Russia
Category:Russian war crimes in Syria
Category:Building bombings in Syria
Category:Strategic bombing operations and battles