Airstrikes hit Syrian schools, hospitals

Days ago, U. S., Russia brokered truce deal

The United Nations said dozens of civilians were killed Monday in missile strikes on hospitals and schools in northern Syria days before a proposed brokered truce is to begin.

The United States and aid groups blamed the Syrian government and Russian allies for the airstrikes, though neither acknowledged responsibility for the attacks.

U. N. Secretary- General Ban Ki Moon called the attacks “blatant violations of international laws” that are “further degrading an already devastated health care system and preventing access to education in Syria,” according to deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

Doctors With out Borders said a hospital it funds in the town of Maarat al-Numan in Idlib province was hit by four rockets in attacks that were minutes apart, killing seven people and leaving eight staff members missing and presumed dead.

The international charity said about 15 buildings in the area were hit.

The Britain- based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian warplanes targeted and destroyed the hospital.

The opposition group said dozens were wounded. The Observatory and other opposition activists said another hospital in Maaret al- Numan was also hit Monday, most likely by a Syrian government airstrike.

In a separate incident Monday, at least 14 people died when missiles struck a children’s hospital and a school in the rebel- held town of Azaz in northwestern Syria, near the Turkish border, Reuters reported, citing a medic and two residents.

Abu Mohamed, a civil defense officer in Azaz, said Russian warplanes launched strikes on parts of the town Monday, Turkey’s state- run Anadolu news agency reported.

The report couldn’t immediately be verified by USA TODAY.

The airstrikes come after the United States and Russia brokered a truce agreement Friday in Munich that could stop the fighting as soon as the end of this week to allow humanitarian aid into besieged Syrian cities.

The U. S. State Department blamed the attacks on the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad and its supporters, which include Russia.

On Oct. 3, U. S. forces struck a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, killing 30 people.

The United States military said that bombing was a mistake after Afghan forces requested an airstrike.