Summary

  • Two hospitals have reportedly been hit by air strikes in north-western Syria

  • At least 10 people are feared dead in one strike in Azaz, on the Turkish border

  • Medecins Sans Frontieres says eight staff members are missing after another attack in Maarat al-Numan

  • Azaz is the focus of mounting tension between Turkey and the Kurdish YPG militia

  • The incidents come days after world powers agreed to a limited cessation of hostilities in Syria

Live Reporting

Victoria King, David Gritten, Lucy Fleming and Nalina Eggert

  1. Azaz - a focus of growing tension

    Russia has been carrying out air strikes since September against opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, although it says it has only targeted "terrorists". 

    In recent weeks, Azaz and the nearby Bab al-Salam border crossing have seen an influx of tens of thousands of people fleeing a major offensive by Syrian government forces on rebel-held areas to the south, outside the city of Aleppo.

    A Kurdish militia, the Popular Protection Forces (YPG) has also been making advances against the rebels west of Azaz. Turkey, which considers the YPG a branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), has promised the "harshest reaction" if Kurdish forces try to take the town.

  2. Turkish PM blames Russia for Azaz strike

    A damaged clinic in AzazAFP

    At least 10 people reportedly died in the strike in Azaz, a town in Aleppo province about 5km (3 miles) from the Turkish border. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says a Russian ballistic missile hit buildings in the town, with children among the dead. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, and a local activist also said a missile struck the town.

  3. Eight hospital staff missing - MSF

    Hospital in Maarat al-Numan after reported air strikeMedecins Sans Frontieres

    Medecins Sans Frontieres released this image of the aftermath of one of the air strikes on the hospital in Maarat al-Numan, in Idlib province. The organisation says the building was hit by four rockets and that at least eight of its staff are missing.

  4. Hospitals hit

    Two hospitals have been hit in new air strikes in north-western Syria, according to medics and witnesses. There are reports of deaths and injuries in the strikes, which occurred in the towns of Azaz and Maarat al-Numan.