Three children among more than 27 dead as hospital hit by strikes in Aleppo

At least three children are among more than 27 dead after an air strike hit a hospital in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

The bombing was part of new wave to hit rebel-held areas of the city. At least 30 more civilians have been killed by the strikes, which local sources said were either carried out by Russian or Assad government's war planes. The Syrian military has said it did not target the hospital. 

Violence has escalated in Syria in recent days and on Monday Christian and Kurdish neighbourhoods in Aleppo were attacked. At least eight children died in the fighting in the district of Sulaymaniyah.

Over the past six days as violence has increased, government air strikes have killed 91 civilians in rebel held areas and 49 have been killed by rebel shelling in government held areas, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

Aleppo is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said from Geneva.

"Wherever you are, you hear explosions of mortars, shelling and planes flying over," said Valter Gros in a statement.

"There is no neighbourhood of the city that hasn't been hit. People are living on the edge. Everyone here fears for their lives and nobody knows what is coming next."

The increasing violence helped to undermine UN-led peace talks in recent weeks. A cessation of hostilities agreement has unravelled and fighting has resumed on numerous fronts in western Syria.

The hospital was supported by the charity Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF). One local activist told the BBC buildings around the hospital were also hit.

"It was an air strike by two rockets, heavy rockets from a Russian air strike," he said.

"Near the hospital one building on five floors just crumbled and just crashed down and we don't know how many dead will be under these ruins."

An MSF spokesman told the BBC that Aleppo's last remaining paediatrician had been killed in the strike.

He said: "He kept it going, was always there and always worried about the needs of the people. He was honest and very committed. He worked in conditions you cannot even begin to imagine."

The Syrian state media has made no mention of the attack but said 14 had been killed on Thursday by rebel shelling in government held areas.

More than 270,000 have been in Syria's ongoing civil war which has torn the country apart since 2011. Millions have been forced to flee.

Additional reporting by Reuters. 

related articles
Syrian peace talks falter, but limp on to next week with opposition absent

Syrian peace talks falter, but limp on to next week with opposition absent

Obama set to boost US troop numbers in Syria
Obama set to boost US troop numbers in Syria

Obama set to boost US troop numbers in Syria

Pope Francis urges prayer for kidnapped priests in Syria
Pope Francis urges prayer for kidnapped priests in Syria

Pope Francis urges prayer for kidnapped priests in Syria

\'At least 8 children dead\' as Christian neighbourhoods attacked in Aleppo
'At least 8 children dead' as Christian neighbourhoods attacked in Aleppo

'At least 8 children dead' as Christian neighbourhoods attacked in Aleppo

News
The first Christmas song to be sung in churches
The first Christmas song to be sung in churches

Every Christmas, people sing the song “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”. Unlike many other songs and carols that include elements of non-biblical tradition and myth, this song is pure Scripture. It was the first Christmas song authorised to be sung in the Church of England. This is the story …

The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914
The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914

On Christmas Eve in 1914, many men were in the trenches fighting the war, but the spirit of Christmas halted the conflict for a brief period. This is the story …

Report highlights injustices experienced by Christians in the Holy Land
Report highlights injustices experienced by Christians in the Holy Land

Jerusalem Church leaders have released a report detailing the struggles and challenges currently faced be Christians living in the Holy Land.

Have you lost the wonder of Christmas?
Have you lost the wonder of Christmas?

For you who have been followers of Jesus Christ for a long time, maybe the pain and suffering of this world and the darkness you have had to live through this past year has gotten you down to the point of complete and utter discouragement. But all is not lost.