Nicholas Preddey

• "Hospitals targeted in Syria's North" — Wikinews, 01/06/16

A Hospital in the Syrian city of Idlib had been targeted on Monday night, killing at least 23 people and leaving dozens injured.

The attack on the city of Idlib believe to be the work of the Syrian and Russian government forces conducting airstrikes. Opposition activists claim the hospital was targeted to punish civilians in rebel- held areas. However, the Russian and Syrian government believe they are targeting terrorists and have denied any civilian casualties.

Eight strikes were conducted at the national hospital in Idlib, which also destroyed several buildings in a crowded area of the city. According to opposition activists. Witnesses from the White Helmet rescue group believe the strikes were carried out by a Russian aircraft. Moscow had joined the on air attacks last September, which is said to have slowed the rebels control over areas such as Idlib.

Hospitals in the neighbouring city of Aleppo have been hit dozens of times this year, with three women killed last month when an airstrike targeted a maternity ward. 50 people were also killed in Aleppo last month when a pediatric hospital was hit. Doctors and medical workers are finding it harder to reach victims due to 57% of hospitals are closed down or partly functioning. According to NGO Medics Under Fire, 15,000 doctors have fled Syria since the regime of Bashar al- Assad.

The attacks in Idlib and Aleppo bring the death toll of the Syrian war to 250,000 which began in 2011.

• Anne Barnard. "Airstrikes in Syria killed and hurt dozens near hospital, rescuers say" — New York Times, 31/5/16

• unknown. "Syria civil war: Russia denies conducting Idlib raids" — Aljazeera, 1/6/16

*Joshua Berlinger. "Children caught in the firing line as airstrikes target Syrian city" — CNN, 31/5/16 ·

*Raja Abdulrahim. "[ http://www.wsj.com/articles/at-least-29-people-killed-in-syria-airstrikes-1464698919]" — Wall Street Journal, 31/5/16