Hailey Tran
The United States has a history of bombing hospitals in various countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Laos, North Korea, Yugoslavia, and Syria. One notable incident occurred in Kunduz, Afghanistan, where a U.S. airstrike destroyed a Doctors Without Borders hospital, killing and injuring civilians and medical staff. Hospitals in Iraq were also frequent targets during the U.S. occupation, with reports of attacks on medical facilities and personnel. The U.S. has been accused of violating international law and committing war crimes through these actions. While the exact number of hospitals bombed by the U.S. is unclear, there have been widespread reports and testimonies confirming these incidents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hospitals bombed in Afghanistan | 1 |
| Location of the hospital in Afghanistan | Kunduz |
| Year of the attack in Afghanistan | 2015 |
| Number of people killed in the Afghanistan attack | 42 |
| Number of people injured in the Afghanistan attack | 30+ |
| Number of hospitals bombed in Iraq | 1+ |
| Location of the hospital in Iraq | Baghdad |
| Year of the attack in Iraq | 2003 |
| Number of people killed in the Iraq attack | 3-30 |
| Number of people injured in the Iraq attack | 215 |
| Number of hospitals bombed in Syria | Several |
| Number of hospitals bombed in Laos | Countless |
| Number of hospitals bombed in North Korea | 1,000 |
| Year of the attack in North Korea | 1950s |
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What You'll Learn
US airstrikes destroyed a trauma hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan
On 3 October 2015, a United States Air Force gunship attacked and destroyed the Kunduz Trauma Centre in Afghanistan, which was operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders. The attack killed 42 people, including doctors, staff members, patients, and caregivers, and injured over 30 others. MSF had been in full control of the hospital, enforcing a 'no weapons' policy, and there were no armed combatants within or in the direct vicinity of the hospital before the airstrikes.
MSF strongly condemned the bombing, calling it a deliberate breach of international humanitarian law and a war crime. They demanded an independent investigation by the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), as attacks on hospitals are protected in conflict zones under the Geneva Conventions. MSF's internal review confirmed that their rules and the 'no weapons' policy were respected, and there were no armed combatants within the hospital compound.
Before the bombing, the MSF hospital was the only active medical facility and trauma centre in northeastern Afghanistan. In 2014, over 22,000 patients were treated, and more than 5,900 surgeries were performed. The destruction of the hospital left many without access to critical medical care, forcing them to make dangerous journeys to Kabul or Pakistan.
The United States military initially stated that the airstrike was carried out to defend US forces on the ground. However, the US commander in Afghanistan, General John F. Campbell, later claimed that the airstrike was a US decision made within the US chain of command and not at the request of Afghan forces. This incident sparked an international outcry and investigations by the Pentagon and NATO.
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US aircraft bombed a maternity hospital in Baghdad
Hospitals are meant to be safe spaces where the injured and sick can seek treatment and refuge. However, in times of war, these spaces are not always respected as neutral zones, and hospitals are often caught in the crossfire or deliberately targeted. During the US-led war in Iraq, hospitals in Baghdad were frequently targeted, with one notable incident involving a US aircraft bombing a maternity hospital.
On 2 April 2003, during the early hours of the morning, US aircraft bombed a Red Crescent maternity hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. The hospital was part of a compound that included the Iraqi Red Crescent headquarters, fairgrounds, and a surgical hospital. The attack killed several people and wounded at least 25, according to hospital sources and witnesses. The roof of the maternity hospital collapsed, and windows were smashed. While the US Central Command stated that they only targeted legitimate military targets and worked to minimise civilian casualties, this incident raises questions about the conduct of the US-led war and its impact on civilian infrastructure.
This bombing was not an isolated incident. Hospitals in Baghdad and across Iraq were frequently targeted during the US occupation. For example, in Mosul, all eight ambulances and some doctors' cars were stolen at gunpoint from Jumhuriya Hospital. Shiite militia seized Baghdad's Al-Kindi Hospital, using it as a base. In another incident, US forces stormed a hospital in Nasiriya, later presenting evidence that it had been illegally used by Iraq for military purposes. These events highlight the vulnerability of hospitals and medical personnel during times of conflict.
The targeting of hospitals has been a recurring issue in US military campaigns. In the 1980s, there were multiple deliberate US attacks on hospitals during their dirty wars in Central America. In 1989, the US carried out an air attack on a Salvadoran hospital controlled by the leftist FMLN party. More recently, in 2015, a US Air Force gunship attacked the Kunduz Trauma Centre operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Afghanistan, killing 42 people and injuring over 30. While the US military claimed the airstrike was to defend US forces, MSF condemned the incident as a deliberate breach of international humanitarian law and a war crime.
The bombing of the maternity hospital in Baghdad and other similar incidents underscore the tragic consequences of war and the importance of upholding international laws that protect civilian infrastructure and humanitarian spaces. While the specifics of each incident vary, the common thread is the devastating impact on the local population's access to healthcare and the loss of life among patients, medical staff, and humanitarian workers.
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US occupation saw hospitals in Iraq frequently targeted
The US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 has had a devastating impact on the country's healthcare system, with hospitals frequently targeted by US forces and their allies. The US occupation saw a significant increase in violence and instability in Iraq, leading to direct attacks on hospitals and healthcare workers, as well as indirect consequences such as looting and neglect.
During the Iraq War, hospitals in Baghdad and other cities became targets of sectarian violence. In one instance, Shiite militia seized Baghdad's Al-Kindi Hospital, using it as a base. Reports also indicate that US troops hit ambulances and civilian cars, obstructing the passage of patients and health workers to medical facilities. The US military's checkpoints further hindered access to healthcare, contributing to avoidable deaths.
The US-led invasion also resulted in the looting and ransacking of hospitals. In Mosul, all eight ambulances and some doctors' cars were stolen at gunpoint from Jumhuriya Hospital. Doctors' offices were looted, and hospitals in Baghdad were stripped of essential equipment, including baby incubators. This led to the closure of many hospitals and a severe impact on healthcare delivery.
The violence and instability caused by the US occupation also indirectly affected hospitals and healthcare workers. Medical schools and universities became targets, with the Iraqi Association of University Teachers reporting that about 30% of assassinated faculty members came from the country's 12 medical schools. The overall insecurity and violence made it challenging for healthcare professionals to safely report to work, further disrupting medical services.
The impact of the US occupation extended beyond the direct targeting of hospitals. The US and its allies dropped an estimated half a million tons of bombs on Iraq by 2005, contributing to the destruction of civilian infrastructure and indirectly affecting healthcare facilities. The US government's reconstruction efforts fell short, with a lack of focus on adequately addressing the needs of healthcare facilities.
The frequent targeting of hospitals and healthcare workers during the US occupation of Iraq had severe consequences, undermining the country's healthcare system and contributing to a humanitarian crisis. The attacks violated international humanitarian law and highlighted a disregard for the protection of medical personnel and facilities in conflict zones.
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US military accused of deliberately attacking hospitals in Cambodia
The US military has been accused of deliberately attacking hospitals in Cambodia. Testimonies from US army officers support claims made by Cambodians that the US military was deliberately attacking hospitals as part of their campaign to destroy the country.
In 2025, tensions rose between Cambodia and Thailand, with both sides accusing each other of attacking civilian targets. Cambodia accused Thailand of violating international law by laying landmines within Thai territory on the disputed border, and by firing rockets into civilian areas, including a hospital and homes in Surin province. Thailand, on the other hand, accused Cambodia of using artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rockets to attack schools and hospitals, causing casualties among innocent civilians.
The US has been accused of bombing hospitals in other countries as well. For example, in 2015, a US Air Force AC-130U gunship attacked the Kunduz Trauma Centre in Afghanistan, killing 42 people and injuring over 30. The US military initially stated that the airstrike was carried out to defend US forces on the ground. However, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which operated the hospital, stated that the attack was a deliberate breach of international humanitarian law and a war crime. Hospitals in Iraq were also reportedly frequent targets during the US occupation, with one strike on a Baghdad hospital killing or injuring dozens of medical staff.
The US has also been criticized for its role in the bombing of hospitals in Laos, North Korea, and Yugoslavia. In Laos, the most heavily bombed country in world history, countless health centers were reportedly leveled by US bombing campaigns. In North Korea, the US aerial bombing is estimated to have destroyed 1,000 hospitals. In 1999, NATO warplanes, backed by the US, used laser-guided missiles to destroy a hospital in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
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US aerial bombing destroyed 1,000 hospitals in North Korea
During the Korean War, the United States dropped 635,000 tons of bombs on Korea, including 32,557 tons of napalm. This bombing campaign destroyed almost every substantial building in North Korea, including 1,000 hospitals, 8,700 factories, 5,000 schools, and 600,000 homes. The war's highest-ranking U.S. POW, U.S. Major General William F. Dean, reported that most North Korean cities and villages were either rubble or snow-covered wastelands.
The U.S. bombing campaign in North Korea resulted in a massive loss of civilian life, with estimates ranging from 1.2 million to 3 million deaths. The destruction of hospitals and other critical infrastructure also had devastating consequences for the surviving population, threatening millions with starvation and leaving them vulnerable to disease and injury.
While the U.S. State Department expressed concern about avoiding civilian casualties, the reality on the ground was quite different. In October 1950, for example, General Stratemeyer requested permission to attack Sinuiju, a provincial capital with a population of 60,000, without warning, using burning and high explosives. Although MacArthur's headquarters initially denied this request, citing general policy from Washington, the distinction between targets and the reality of warfare in a rapidly evolving frontline meant that civilian areas were often bombed.
The destruction of North Korea's hospitals and other infrastructure had long-lasting impacts on the country, shaping its subsequent development and contributing to the deep-seated paranoia and isolation that have characterized its relationship with the United States and the wider world.
In addition to the destruction of hospitals in North Korea during the Korean War, it is worth noting that the United States has also been implicated in more recent attacks on medical facilities. For example, in 2015, a U.S. airstrike destroyed a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, killing 42 people and injuring over 30 others.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to find an exact number, but there are several instances of the US bombing hospitals. The US has bombed hospitals in Laos, North Korea, Yugoslavia, Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world, with countless health centers being leveled.
The North Korean government estimates that US aerial bombings destroyed 1000 hospitals.
Hospitals in Iraq were frequently targeted during the US occupation.
The US bombed a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, in 2015.
There have been widespread reports of hospitals being bombed in Syria. However, it is difficult to verify the exact number due to challenges in reporting and the ongoing nature of the conflict.
