Russia denies bombing hospital in Syria’s Idlib province

Russian officials have rebuffed claims that warplanes from the country struck a hospital in northern Syria.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for president Vladimir Putin, told reporters this was another case of those who make such accusations against Russia being unable to back up their claims.

He added they should rely on official announcements from the Syrian government.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian warplanes targeted the hospital in Idlib province, destroying it and killing nine people.

On Monday night, France’s new foreign minister said attacks like the one on the hospital “could constitute war crimes”.

In a separate incident on Monday, 14 people were when missiles hit a children’s hospital, a school and other locations in the rebel-held Syrian town of Azaz near the Turkish border on Monday, a medic and two residents said.

They said at least five missiles hit the hospital in the town centre and a nearby school, where refugees fleeing a major Syrian army offensive were sheltering.

A resident said another refugee shelter south of the town was also hit by bombs dropped by jets believed to be Russian.

Tens of thousands of people have fled to the town, the last rebel stronghold before the border with Turkey, from towns and villages where there is heavy fighting between the Syrian army and militias.

“We have been moving scores of screaming children from the hospital,” said medic Juma Rahal. At least two children were killed and ambulances ferried scores of injured people to Turkey for treatment, he said.

Russian bombing raids on rebel fighters are helping the Syrian army to advance toward Aleppo, the country's largest city and commercial centre before the conflict. If the army takes the city, it will by the Syrian government's biggest victory of the war.

Agencies