Syrian hospital escapes barrage

– A Turkish-led bombardment left at least one person dead and several others wounded near the main hospital in the Syrian town of Afrin yesterday, a monitor and military force said.

The border areas in Syria’s northwest region of Afrin have been battered by air strikes, artillery and rocket fire since Ankara and allied Syrian rebels began their assault on the district three weeks ago.

Strikes on the central town of Afrin are more rare but a barrage of artillery and rockets struck it yesterday morning, AFP correspondents there said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, said: “At least one person was killed and four others wounded when Turkish forces and allied factions fired artillery and rockets on Afrin city, including near the entrance of the hospital.”

The broader Afrin region is held by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which has received US backing but is considered by Ankara to be a “terror group”.

YPG spokesperson Birusk Hasakeh confirmed to AFP that one person had been killed in bombardment near the hospital.

The Afrin hospital is the main medical facility in the area and has been overwhelmed by civilians seeking treatment there.

Turkey and allied Syrian factions launched their offensive on January 20, saying they aimed to clear the YPG from the border area and others in the east. – AFP