Tessa Quinn
Russia has been accused of deliberately bombing hospitals in Syria since 2015, with the alleged attacks intensifying after the Russian military entered the Syrian conflict in 2015. In 2019, The New York Times published a story that provided evidence of Russian forces bombing four hospitals in the opposition-held Idlib province. Since 2011, there have been at least 600 separate attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria, with Russia and Syria being responsible for around 90% of them. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of health workers and civilians, and the destruction of vital medical infrastructure. Despite the comprehensive documentation of these attacks, no one has been held accountable for these crimes, leading to concerns that the international community has failed to protect besieged health workers and patients in Syria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hospitals bombed in Syria by Russia | 600 |
| Number of attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria since the conflict began in 2011 | 601 |
| Number of attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria perpetrated by Russia or its allies | 244 |
| Number of attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria perpetrated by Russia or Syria | 300+ |
| Number of attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria between May and December 2016 | 200 |
| Number of hospitals attacked in the Aleppo Governorate before March 2016 | 6 |
| Number of hospitals attacked in Syria in May 2019 | 4 |
| Number of health facilities in Syria hit by Syrian government and Russian raids and rocket fire between late April and June 2019 | 24 |
| Number of health workers killed in Syria | 942 |
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What You'll Learn
- Russian forces have bombed hundreds of hospitals in Syria since 2015
- The Russian government denies involvement and claims attacks are staged
- Hospitals are a primary target to empty towns and facilitate ground invasions
- Russia withdrew from a UN agreement to protect hospitals in Syria in 2020
- No one has been held accountable for bombing hospitals in Syria
Russian forces have bombed hundreds of hospitals in Syria since 2015
Since Russia began military operations in Syria in 2015, Russian forces have been accused of deliberately bombing hospitals and medical facilities. According to Physicians for Human Rights, an NGO that tracks attacks on healthcare facilities, there have been at least 600 attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria, with 244 of these occurring after the Russian military entered the conflict in 2015. These attacks have resulted in the killing of 942 health workers.
In 2015, there were over 300 attacks on medical facilities by Syrian and Russian forces. This includes attacks on hospitals in Aleppo, with more than six hospitals attacked before March 2016. Hospitals in opposition-controlled areas around Aleppo became a primary target for Russian and Syrian government forces, eliminating a vital lifeline for civilians and leaving them no choice but to flee. In 2016, medical facilities were attacked around 200 times by Russian and Syrian forces. In April 2016, a Russian airstrike hit a hospital that served as the area's primary pediatric care facility, resulting in over two dozen deaths.
In February 2016, a children's hospital was hit in Azaz, and Russians claimed they were targeting ISIL infrastructure. That same month, two hospitals in Maarrat al-Nu'man were attacked, one of which was supported by Doctors Without Borders. In July 2016, a hospital was attacked by Russian forces in Atarib, and in August 2016, a medical facility was attacked once every 17 hours. In October 2015, a Russian aircraft attacked a medical facility operated by the Syrian American Medical Society in the town of Sarmin.
In May 2019, Russian forces bombed four hospitals in the opposition-held Idlib province, including the Tarmala Maternity and Children's Hospital, which served around 6,000 people a month. In February 2020, Russian warplanes hit two hospitals and residential areas in the northern town of Darat Izza, wounding civilians and forcing the medical facilities to close. These attacks have been condemned as a violation of international humanitarian law and a betrayal of immense gravity. Despite the comprehensive documentation of these attacks, no perpetrator has been held accountable.
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The Russian government denies involvement and claims attacks are staged
Russia has been accused of bombing hospitals in Syria for years, with hundreds of attacks on healthcare facilities. In 2019, The New York Times published a story that provided evidence that Russian forces deliberately bombed four hospitals in opposition-held Idlib province. Despite this, the Russian government has denied involvement and claimed that attacks are staged. For instance, in 2018, when chemical weapons were used in an attack on a hospital in Douma, Russia denied that chemical weapons were used and later claimed that the attack was staged by the United Kingdom.
In May 2019, four hospitals in southern Idlib province were attacked and the bombings were traced and tied to Russian pilots. The audio recordings featured Russian pilots confirming each bombing. These hospitals were Nabad al Hayat Surgical Hospital, Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital, Kafr Zita Cave Hospital, and Al Amal Orthopedic Hospital. Two brothers, who were standing near the entrance to Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital, died as a result of the attack. Russia had been notified of the coordinates of the hospital under the UN Deconfliction Mechanism, a "no-hit list" designed to protect humanitarian facilities.
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. Hospitals in Aleppo were attacked multiple times. In February 2020, Russian warplanes hit two hospitals in the northern town of Darat Izza, wounding civilians and forcing the medical facilities to close.
Amnesty International has found that Russian and Syrian government forces appear to have deliberately and systematically targeted hospitals and other medical facilities to pave the way for ground forces to advance on northern Aleppo. According to Tirana Hassan, Crisis Response Director at Amnesty International, "Syrian and Russian forces have been deliberately attacking health facilities in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. But what is truly egregious is that wiping out hospitals appears to have become part of their military strategy." Syrian and Russian forces have targeted hospitals as a strategy to empty towns and villages of residents to facilitate ground invasions.
Despite the extensive evidence and documentation of these attacks, no one has been held accountable for bombing hospitals in Syria.
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Hospitals are a primary target to empty towns and facilitate ground invasions
Since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011, there have been at least 600 separate attacks on healthcare facilities in the country, the majority of which were carried out by the Syrian government or forces allied with it. From 2016 onwards, this includes the Russians—at least 244 attacks since then have been perpetrated by either Russian or Syrian forces.
In 2015, there were over 300 attacks on medical facilities by Syrian and Russian forces. From May to December 2016, medical facilities were attacked about 200 times by the same forces. Hospitals in Aleppo were attacked multiple times. Before March 2016, more than six hospitals were attacked in the Aleppo Governorate. In April 2016, over two dozen were killed when a Russian airstrike hit a hospital; the hospital served as the area's primary pediatric care facility. In 2017, a hospital in the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun was evacuated because it came under sustained aerial bombardment shortly after a chemical attack. In April 2018, chemical weapons were used in an attack on a hospital in Douma.
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. On May 5, 2019, an aerial munition hit the entrance to Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital in Idlib province, Syria. Over the next twenty minutes, the hospital complex was struck three more times. Two brothers, who were standing near the entrance to the hospital, died as a result of the attack.
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Russia withdrew from a UN agreement to protect hospitals in Syria in 2020
There is extensive evidence that Russia has bombed hospitals in Syria. In October 2019, the New York Times published a story proving that Russian forces deliberately bombed four hospitals in the opposition-held Idlib province in May 2019. There is also evidence of Russian warplanes bombing a hospital in East Ghouta in September 2015, killing three male nurses and injuring two female nurses.
In June 2020, Russia announced its decision to withdraw from a voluntary UN agreement that aimed to protect hospitals, medical facilities, and humanitarian aid deliveries in Syria. Under this agreement, the locations of such facilities were shared with the conflicting parties to prevent them from being targeted. Russia's decision came after a UN inquiry found it "highly probable" that the Syrian government or its allies carried out attacks on healthcare facilities and schools in northwest Syria in 2019.
Russia has long questioned the sources used by the UN to verify attacks and believes that relevant information should be given to Syrian authorities. Despite Russia's withdrawal, the UN stated that it would continue to discuss the situation with Russia and examine the implications of the decision for humanitarian personnel and operations in Syria.
The withdrawal from the UN agreement occurred amidst ongoing Russian-Syrian attacks on hospitals and medical facilities. In February 2020, Russian warplanes hit two hospitals and residential areas in the northern town of Darat Izza, wounding civilians and forcing the medical facilities to close. Amnesty International documented 18 attacks on civilian facilities, including medical facilities, by either the Syrian government or Russia between May 2019 and February 2020. These attacks have been described as war crimes by Human Rights Watch, with deliberate bombings of hospitals violating international humanitarian law.
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No one has been held accountable for bombing hospitals in Syria
Since the start of the Syrian Civil War, hospitals in the country have been targeted and bombed. The Syrian government and its allies, including Russia, have been responsible for the majority of these attacks.
In 2019, The New York Times published a story that provided evidence of Russian forces deliberately bombing four hospitals in the opposition-held Idlib province in May of that year. The article also reported on the bombing of a secret underground hospital in East Ghouta, known as the Cave, by Russian warplanes in 2015, which resulted in the deaths of three male nurses and injuries to two female nurses. Despite this evidence, no one has been held accountable for these attacks.
Amnesty International, a non-governmental organization that focuses on human rights, has also reported on the systematic targeting of hospitals and medical facilities by Russian and Syrian government forces. They found that these attacks violated international humanitarian law and amounted to war crimes. Physicians for Human Rights, another non-governmental organization, documented 583 attacks on at least 350 separate medical facilities between March 2011 and September 2019, resulting in the deaths of 912 medical personnel. They attributed 525 of these attacks to Syrian government forces (301) or the Russian military (224). Despite these thorough investigations and reports by reputable organizations, no one has been held accountable for the bombing of hospitals in Syria.
The United Nations (UN) has also played a role in attempting to prevent the bombing of hospitals in Syria. Since 2014, the UN has operated a mechanism for humanitarian deconfliction, under which hospitals can voluntarily register their GPS coordinates on a "no-strike list" shared with Russia, Turkey, and the United States. However, even after the UN passed the coordinates of nine health facilities to Russia in an effort to protect them from being bombed, these facilities came under fire. Russia's decision to quit a voluntary UN agreement in June 2020, which aimed to protect hospitals and medical facilities, further highlights the lack of accountability for the bombing of hospitals in Syria.
The lack of consequences for the bombing of hospitals in Syria has led to a continued strategy of targeting medical facilities by the Syrian government and its allies. This has resulted in the displacement of millions of civilians and the loss of access to vital healthcare services for those residing in rebel-held territories. Despite the normalization of relations with the Assad regime by some nations, the lack of tangible consequences for these attacks remains a concern.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Russia has bombed hospitals in Syria.
Russia began military operations in Syria in 2015. Since then, Russian forces have targeted hospitals and medical facilities in Syria.
According to Physicians for Human Rights, there have been at least 600 separate attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria, with 244 of them occurring after the Russian military entered the conflict in 2015. In May 2019, Russian forces bombed four hospitals in the opposition-held Idlib province within 12 hours.
Russia has bombed several hospitals in Syria, including the Tarmala Maternity and Children's Hospital in South Idlib, Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital, Kafr Zita Cave Hospital, and Al Amal Orthopedic Hospital.
Deliberately attacking hospitals is a violation of international humanitarian law and is considered a war crime. However, Syrian and Russian forces have targeted hospitals as part of their military strategy to pave the way for ground forces to advance.
