Syria
A woman cries as her wounded child lies in hospital after shelling on the city of Aleppo on March 21, 2021. Photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The United States Department of State has condemned Sunday airstrikes in Syria that killed several civilians, reiterating calls for a nationwide ceasefire.
The Syrian regime and Russian military launched airstrikes on civilian areas in the northern provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, including a hospital, according to a statement released on Monday.
Reported shelling on Aleppo city’s al-Atareb hospital killed several patients and wounded a dozen medical staff, the State Department said.
The shelling “is a continuation of the regime and Russia’s systematic policy of targeting medical facilities and hospitals, intending to deprive civilians of these vital services,” the Syrian Civil Defense, or White Helmets, said on Sunday, demanding the international community to hold “the Assad regime and those who support it to account for this massacre.”
A civilian was also killed, according to the State Department, in a Russian airstrike near the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey – a crucial lifeline for millions who rely on humanitarian aid.
“Civilians, including civilian medical personnel and facilities, must never be the target of military action,” said department spokesperson Ned Price.
The Syrian conflict entered its tenth year earlier this month. More than 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria, according to the UN.
Civilian areas and facilities, including schools and hospitals, are often targeted in regime and Russian airstrikes.
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