Opposition Forces Attacked Hospitals in Aleppo

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien said that non-state actors have carried out at least two deadly attacks on hospitals in Syria’s Aleppo in the last week.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Non-state actors have carried out at least two deadly attacks on hospitals in Aleppo in the last week, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien told the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

"In western Aleppo, currently controlled by the [Syrian] government, Ibn Rushed hospital was hit by mortars, allegedly fired by non-state armed groups last week, and just yesterday [there was] an attack on the Debeet maternity hospital in western Aleppo — again allegedly by non-State armed groups, resulting in three fatalities," O'Brien said.

On Tuesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that the al-Nusra Front terrorist group shelled the Debeet hospital. According to local media reports, six civilians were killed and at least 39 were wounded in that attack.

The UN Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution condemning the attacks on medical and humanitarian personnel in Syria, and urged all parties to ensure the protection of humanitarian workers.

Earlier in the day, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said that more than 250 medical facilities have been attacked in Syria since the civil war began in 2011.

The al-Nusra Front is an al-Qaeda affiliate and is not covered by the cessation of hostilities agreement brokered by the United States and Russia.