Investigating airstrikes on hospitals in Syria

The provinces of Aleppo and Idlib in the north-west of the Syria are the last remaining areas held by rebel forces. As the Assad regime pushes to reclaim them almost a million civilians have been displaced. Hundreds of thousands of people are still fleeing north to the Turkish border.

Hospitals have been a crucial lifeline for civilians trying to survive indiscriminate airstrikes by the Syrian regime and its allies. Yet over 500 medical facilities have been destroyed over the course of the conflict. If they’re targeted deliberately, it’s a war crime.

In the latest in our series of special reports on the conflict in Idlib Province, we investigate an airstrike on a hospital in the town of Ariha three weeks ago. Located just eight miles from Idlib City, evidence obtained by this programme suggests the attack was carried out by Russia, despite its previous denials.

Warning: this report contains distressing images from the start.

Producers:

Nidal Abdulmonem

Andy Lee

Anas Tracey

Editor: Agnieszka Liggett