An investigation about attacking 8 Syrian hospitals in Idlib

Medical Facilities Under Fire

medium_medical-facilities0under-fire.png

small_medical-facilities0under-fire.png

thumbnail_medical-facilities0under-fire.png

medical-facilities0under-fire.png

Location: IDLIB : Marret Numan Hospital: The national hospital of Marret Numan Beneficiaries: ~500,000 people Date: 2 April 2017 Time: 07:30 pm ~ 08:30 pm Attacks: Three airstrikes Reported casualties: None reported Reported injured: Medical patients Munitions identified: Not available Potentially responsible: Russian or Syrian air force
The first hospital attack identified took place on 2 April 2017. One of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/100009011485480/videos/vb.100009011485480/1736175996692766/?type=2&theater">first videos </a>about this incident (source: Abu Ali al Marawy) was published on Facebook 21:13 Damascus time. 
<img src="/uploads/mnfacebook_f74bb66fa7.png" alt="mnfacebook.png">
The video shows the first moment of the attack on the hospital from a far view. In the video they mention an aircraft firing a rocket in Marret Numan. 
<img src="/uploads/mn_firstmoments_dbfc26b977.png" alt="mn-firstmoments.png">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ1u05D0AAI">Shaam News published a video</a> on their YouTube channel showing the destruction inside the hospital. See still below:
<img src="/uploads/image4_76640f2ba7.png" alt="ho1.png">
Muaz Al Shami, a citizen journalist, also published a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq8vN5ZPX8c">video on his YouTube channel</a> showing destruction inside the hospital, as well as destruction of the ambulance car parked outside of the facility. See still below:
<img src="/uploads/image3_1ac619307b.png" alt="ho3.png">
Qasioun News agency also published a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyv8TBn3AMk">video on their YouTube channel </a>showing the damaged roof. From the video still below, it is apparent that two roofs were damaged from two different floors. 
<img src="/uploads/image7_ecb005c15d.png" alt="ho4.png">
A separate <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJKHZAcTvKE">video published by Qasioun News agency shows the damaged roof from above in the daylight.</a>
Marret Numan Network, a group of citizen journalists, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5N5tBOOE9c">published a video</a> on their YouTube channel showing the destruction of the exterior and interior of the building and clear damage of the roof as a result of it being targeted with an airtsrike. 
<img src="/uploads/image10_73aa527d05.png" alt=""> 
<img src="/uploads/image8_c3c2e61ac1.png" alt=""> 
The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSAP3nj_X8Q">Idlib health directorate conducted video interviews</a> with doctors from Marret Numan hospital, which they published online as well. One of the doctors said: &quot;This airstrike is not like any airstrike and Marret hospital is not like any hospital. It&#39;s a huge hospital. It was serving a big area from north countryside of Hama into the southern countryside of Idlib which has a population of 1,500 000 people. &quot;
<img src="/uploads/image5_ddd66a84d1.png" alt="">
Later in the video at 1:48, a doctor states: &quot;The hospital receives 30.000 patients per month. It does more than 1000 surgeries monthly. This hospital will not get back to be working any time soon. This is a clear message that the regime wants to kill any kind of life in our liberated areas.&quot;
In one interview <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBGfAG-Ob-Q">published in a video </a>by the journalist &quot;Hadi Al Abdallah&quot; who spoke with Dr. Abdul Hadi Haidar who works at the national hospital in Marret Numan. Dr Haidar said: &quot;All those injured and the patients were very scared after the hospital attacks. I didn&#39;t know what to do. Should I look after the patients? Or the children? Or myself? We still have infants in incubators inside. The hospital was attacked with three airstrikes which happened at the same time, 10 minutes after each strike.&quot;
<img src="/uploads/image6_6afd43f2b9.png" alt="">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx-eBZKNh6I">Orient news published a video</a> about the attack showing the outside view of the hospital building during the day. This vantage point was used to geolocate the hospital&#39;s building (see below). Satellite image was acquired through Google Earth Pro. 
<img src="/uploads/mn_1_satt_gimp2_52bb908318.png" alt="mn-1-satt-gimp2.png"> 
The journalist also conducted an interview with one of the hospital workers. See still below:
<img src="/uploads/image9_97d5007cd6.png" alt=""> 
In the interview, the hospital worker said: &quot;Yesterday at 19:20 we were transferring a patient into the surgery room when we heard the first bombing, so we all went to the basement floor. The women, children and infants departments were full and there were injuries among them as a result of this attack.&quot;
To provide a further layer of verification, the Syrian Archive cross-referenced findings from the videos with flight observation data from a spotter organisation. This process necessitated analysing observation data for flights between 18:00 and 20:00, the period directly before and after the reported attack. See below:
 <img src="/uploads/2_april_2017b_with_arrows_width_800_b9bf7d08c8.png" alt="workflow">
Through comparing where flights were observed, the time they were observed, and the direction flights were heading, and comparing this data to geolocation conducted in earlier steps, the Syrian Archive was able to identify a potential flight seen circling in the immediate vicinity of geolocated attack site. Previous research has found that circling flights typically indicate target acquisition and/or preparation for imminent attack.
<img src="/uploads/mn_national_h1_0c7cdf60db.jpg" alt="mn-national-h1.jpg"> 
The map above demonstrates that the medical facility attacked was well within range of the aircraft detected.
Witness statements of the attack was provided jointly by Syrians for Truth and Justice and by Justice for Life. Dr. Mohamed Osman, who was in the central Maarat al-Numan Hospital at the moment of the attack, affirmed to the investigative team that on 2 April 2017 at about 20:30, a military aircraft believed to be Russian, launched three airstrikes on the hospital using six thermobaric bombs. The bombs targeted both the upstairs directly as well as the main yard of the hospital. The structural damage to the hospital from the attack was so significant that it caused the hospital to be out of service. Dr. Osman confirmed in his statement:
&quot;The shelling caused heavy physical damage to the building, the medical equipment and the hospital ambulance. The surgery department was the most damaged as one of the rockets fell in the middle of the operating room.&quot;
Ibrahim al-Qasim, the anesthetist present at the hospital at the time of the attack, stated that warplanes targeted the hospital with three airstrikes, while it was crowded with doctors and patients. This caused dozens of injuries and considerable material damage to the hospital. He stated in his statement:
&quot;A rocket hit the operating room and another one destroyed the intensive care room completely, so we immediately transferred as much wounded as possible to the basement, but the material damage was very extensive.&quot;
Al-Qasim emphasized that Ma&#39;arat al-Nu&#39;man hospital is one of the largest medical facilities located in areas controlled by the Syrian armed opposition. As such, most hospitals and medical centers in the vicinity dispatch patients to Maarat al-Nu&#39;man hospital, given that has the capacity to support many medical specialties and surgeries, including a cardiology and surgery department. Al-Qasim mentioned that at the beginning of the conflict the hospital served a densely populated area, including Ma`arat Al-Nu&#39;man and its outskirts, with a total of about 500,000 people benefiting from its services.
Furthermore, Ubada Al-Thekraa, the director of the Civil Defense in Maarat Al-Numan, explained to this report&#39;s investigative team that when Russian warplanes launched the first raid on this particular hospital, Civil Defense members rushed to it, and while they were there, they were shocked by two other raids that caused the electricity to be cut from the hospital. Al-Thekraa added:
&quot;There were infants injured who were in the incubator department; some of them were transferred to hospitals outside Maarat Numan. I remember well that the destruction percentage was over 60.&quot;

An investigation about attacking Syrian hospitals

Incident 1 - Medical Facilities Under Fire

image4.png

Location: IDLIB : Khan Shaykhoun Hospital: The medical point of Khan Shaykoun (Al Rahmeh) Beneficiaries: ~5,000 people Date: 4 April 2017 Time: ~11:00, 4.5 hours after the chemical attack Attacks: Nine airstrikes based on witness statements Reported casualties: not available Reported injured: Medical staff and patients Munitions identified: S-5M Rocket Potentially responsible: Syrian or Russian air force
The second hospital attack took place on 4 April 2017 in Khan Shaykhoun. The bombing occurred approximately 4.5 hours after the widely reported <a href="https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2017/04/05/khan-sheikhoun-chemical-attack-evidence-far/">chemical attack targeting Khan Shaykoun</a>.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons <a href="https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-fact-finding-mission-confirms-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-khan-shaykhun-on-4-april-2017/">published a report</a> about this on 30 June 2017, confirming the use of chemical weapons in Khan Shaykhoun.
Many of the civilians injured as a result of the chemical attack had been transferred to this medical point for treatment, as documented in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b7byi5ZhbQ">a video published by Smart News Agency</a>. See still from the video provided below:
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_11_at_8_27_53_AM_d24f794074.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-11 at 8.27.53 AM.png">
The initial moment of airstrikes against the Khan Shaykhoun medical point and the Civil Defense center were captured by<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPlsAKe8-MA"> reporter Muaz Al Shami published a video</a>. See below:
Muaz Al Shami then walks outside of medical point to document the smoke resulting from the airstrike. See below:
Another reporter who was at the targeted site, Hadi Alabdallah, also <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yLmSJ_X6tk">published a video</a> showing destruction inside and outside the medical point. See below:
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_09_at_5_55_27_PM_d94b3c8331.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-09 at 5.55.27 PM.png">
In the video, Hadi Alabdallah states: &quot;This site was targeted by five airstrikes which resulted in huge damage to the building as well as to the Civil Defense ambulance car and truck. The Civil Defense center and medical point are out of service completely. The air force is still flying around us.&quot;
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_09_at_6_20_44_PM_57261f5e9a.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-09 at 6.20.44 PM.png">
Aleppo Media Center (AMC) also <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mZa0S94eXU">published a video</a> (The video is removed from YouTube but <a href="https://syrianarchive.org/en/database?location=%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8%20:%20%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86%20%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%88%D9%86&term=%20warplaens%20targeting%20a%20hospital%20in%20Khan%20Shaykhun&unit=238a3c4e">archived </a>with the Syrian Archive) featuring the first moments of the attack. Their video documents inside the medical point where children&#39;s voices are clearly heard in the background.
A separate <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtDy8xoRuSc">video published </a>by AMC (The video is removed from YouTube but <a href="https://syrianarchive.org/en/database?location=%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8%20:%20%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86%20%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%88%D9%86&after=2017-04-02&before=2017-04-05&term=the%20warplaens%20targeting%20a%20hospital%20in%20Khan%20Shaykhun&unit=657c9b61">archived</a> with the Syrian Archive) includes an interview with one of the workers at the hospital. In the video, the hospital worker explains: &quot;The hospital received hundreds of injured people as a result of the chemical attack. This included women and children. The Russian and Syrian air force attack targeted the medical point with 15 airstrikes which damaged the medical point very badly, and it&#39;s out of service now.&quot; Damage to the interior of the hospital is shown in a still from the video below:_ _
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_10_at_9_30_13_AM_c676f9ad9f.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-10 at 9.30.13 AM.png">
Reporter Yamaan Khatib also <a href="https://twitter.com/yamaankh_kh/status/849239505743872000">published a video on his Twitter account</a> which shows the first moments of the airstrikes targeting the medical point providing services to many people injured in the Khan Shaykhoun chemical attacks. See below: 
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_11_at_10_00_42_AM_096705300c.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-11 at 10.00.42 AM.png">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98gL17wz3o8">AFP published a separate video</a> from inside the same medical point, which allowed the Syrian Archive to cross-reference and verify that the reporter Yamaan Khatib was inside the same facility when it was attacked. See below: 
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_11_at_10_19_46_AM_195f8117e5.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-11 at 10.19.46 AM.png">
The Civil Defense Center in Idlib <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIG0fOnOlyI">published a video </a>on their YouTube channel showing the damaged building after the attack. In the video, one of their volunteers confirms that the medical point was rendered out of service as a result of the attack.
A still from a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5tjfi4cdf4">video published </a>by Baladi News (The video is removed from YouTube but <a href="https://syrianarchive.org/en/database?location=%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8%20:%20%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86%20%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%88%D9%86&after=2017-04-02&before=2017-04-05&term=the%20warplaens%20targeting%20a%20hospital%20in%20Khan%20Shaykhun&unit=24358768">archived </a>with the Syrian Archive), provided below, shows the destruction of the medical point building: 
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_10_at_9_45_15_AM_a9d260fc3a.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-10 at 9.45.15 AM.png">
Two videos were published by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the first taken from inside the medical point building and the second taken from outside the medical point building. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3PHLF3VLx4">The first video shows</a> people trying to leave the building, struggling with being stuck inside. 
A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuizYFSCzs0">second video</a> by the Syrian Network for Human Rights shows the outside of the medical point and damage to the western side of the building. At 0:04, the person recording states: &quot;4 April 2017 Khan Shaykoun is attacked with four airstrikes (one after the other), after the chemical massacre.&quot; While the recorder was capturing the video, a fifth airstrike occurred. Upon commencement of this new airstrike, the recorder confirms, &quot;This is the fifth airstrike on Khan Shaykhun.&quot;
Smart News Agency published <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7-cZts25Ck">a video clearly documenting the outside area</a> of the medical point and the Civil Defense Center. See still below:
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_10_at_10_31_02_AM_61188de2fd.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-10 at 10.31.02 AM.png"> 
Using stills from the videos above and Google Earth, the Syrian Archive was able to geolocate the attacked site. See below: 
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_10_at_11_47_52_AM_0e3ab8048c.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-10 at 11.47.52 AM.png"> 
Additional satellite imagery was obtained through [DigitalGlobe ©2017], from which further geolocation was possible. See below: 
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_11_at_8_15_33_AM_d0851bd22d.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-11 at 8.15.33 AM.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/Hospital_95aea71c05.jpg" alt="Hospital.jpg"> 
The location of the medical point, verified through geolocation by Bellingcat and the Syrian Archive, is very close to the reported location of the chemical attack that occurred in <a href="https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-fact-finding-mission-confirms-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-khan-shaykhun-on-4-april-2017/">Khan Shaykhoun on 4th April early morning</a>. Geolocation of the medical point building, as well as of the smoke that resulted from the airstrikes, if provided below: 
<img src="/uploads/Khan_Sheikhoun_map3790x2131_caa3a7313a.jpg" alt="Khan_Sheikhoun_map3790x2131.jpg"> 
Remnants of the weapon used in the attack on the hospital were <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KutpAEKdZio">documented in a video published</a> by Orient News and in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUA_eGxcgnw">another video published</a> by Dorar Al Shamyah. See below: 
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_10_at_11_40_50_AM_bd1e3c839b.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-10 at 11.40.50 AM.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_10_at_12_02_06_PM_3d4f267b2e.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-10 at 12.02.06 PM.png"> 
The photos above indicate that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-5_rocket">S-5M rocket</a>s (developed by the Soviet Air Force and used by military aircraft against ground area targets) were used in this attack. See reference images of S-5M rockets for comparison: 
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_10_at_11_55_26_AM_0a680ea959.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-10 at 11.55.26 AM.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_10_at_11_57_19_AM_11a8188e4f.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-10 at 11.57.19 AM.png"> 
Smart News Agency <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7-cZts25Ck">published a video showing the crater</a> of one of the rockets, as shown below: 
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_10_at_10_35_06_AM_3c34131480.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-10 at 10.35.06 AM.png"> 
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Idleb.Health.Directorate/posts/964387723664583:0">A statement about the attack</a> has been published by the Syrian Civil Defense, as well as by the Idlib Health Directorate on their public Facebook pages.
The Syrian Archive compared two satellite images from** [DigitalGlobe ©2017]<a href="https://www.terraserver.com/">** </a>- one taken on 21 February 2017 before the 4 April 2017 attack, and one taken on 2 June 2017 after the attack. The building damage highlighted in white below to the front side and the east side of the building can be clearly identified.
<img src="/uploads/kh_before_after_6eccb84906.png" alt="kh-before-after.png"> 
To provide a further layer of verification, the Syrian Archive analysed flight observation data provided by a spotter organisation. This consisted of analysing observation data of flights between 09:00 and 14:00, the period directly before and after the reported attack. See below: 
<img src="/uploads/4_april_2017_with_arrows_width_800_a18531c8e6.png" alt="4-april-flight-data">
Through comparing where flights were observed, the time they were observed, and the direction flights were heading, and comparing this data to geolocation conducted in earlier steps, the Syrian Archive was able to identify a potential flight seen circling very close to the geolocated attack site.
The report&#39;s source for flight observation data has found that circling flights typically indicate target acquisition and/or preparation for imminent attack. In this case, the Mi-8 helicopter flight observed near the attack site around 10:00 has been determined to likely be acquiring the target for the later attack. Due to the larger number of flights found circling around the attack site around 12:00, identifying the specific plane responsible for the attack was unable to be conducted for this incident.
However, the presence of a large number of Syrian or Russian aircraft in the immediate vicinity to the attack site confirms that an incident may have occurred at this time and location. As with the previous incident, though some aircraft are labelled &quot;Russian,&quot; it is possible the flight was operated by the Syrian air force, rather than the Russian air force, as the Syrian air force also used Russian planes.
<img src="/uploads/h2_kh_hospital_d29689a6c6.jpg" alt="h2-kh-hospital.jpg"> 
The map above demonstrates that the medical facility attacked was well within range of the aircraft detected. The Mi-8 observed and determined to likely be acquiring the target, as well as the drone observed and potentially involved in the attack, were detected circling 18km from the attack site. The four Russian aircraft observed and determined to potentially be involved in the attack were detected circling 11.4 km from the attack site.
Witness statements of the attack was provided jointly by Syrians for Truth and Justice and by Justice for Life. The Managing Director of Al-Rahma hospital in<a href="https://www.google.com.tr/maps/place/Khan+Shaykhun,+Syria/@35.4408521,36.6297784,4961m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x15248ae0edc9cad3:0xc9176383cb24f9c0!8m2!3d35.4403783!4d36.65721?hl=en"> Khan Sheikhoun</a> located in the<a href="https://www.google.com.tr/maps/place/Idlib+Governorate,+Syria/@35.8028553,36.1104838,158030m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x152500e6cc6ed27b:0xe59a7e2f651fc24c!8m2!3d35.8268798!4d36.6957216?hl=en"> Idlib</a> countryside, who did not disclose his name for security purposes, said in his statement to the investigative team that only two hours after targeting the city with chemical weapons on 4 April 2017, Russian warplanes launched nine air raids that lasted for an hour. They targeted the southern area of Khan Sheikhoun, where the Civil Defense Centre and Al-Rahma hospital exist, and caused significant material damage to the hospital such that it was rendered inoperable. He added:
&quot;At about 11:00 am, I was inside the hospital working on reports of the chemical attack on the city just two hours ago. We were shocked by sustained raids which focused on the hospital yard and its main gate, in addition to the drug store which was devastated. Moreover, the shelling caused the disruption of the electricity generators and consequently, power was cut off from the hospital.&quot;
In another statement, the field coordinator of the hospital, who also declined to disclose his name for security purposes, confirmed that Russian warplanes targeted the Al-Rahma hospital alongside other medical facilities near Khan Sheikhoun, especially those that had received large numbers of patients injured by the previous chemical attacks. He added:
&quot;As soon as we heard the roar of the warplanes, I rushed inside with some visitors, and then the warplanes began to target the area and hit the hospital. Although the hospital was established in an underground cave, the rockets were able to penetrate it and caused considerable damage to the medical equipment.&quot;
In a related context, Anas Diyab, a member of the Civil Defense in Khan Sheikhoun, who contributed in transferring the injured from the hospital after bombarding it by more than five airstrikes, spoke to the report&#39;s investigative team, stating:
&quot;Al-Rahma Hospital, also known as the Cave Hospital, is considered the only surgical hospital in the town and provides services to Khan Sheikhoun people and the surrounding villages as well. However, Russian warplanes targeted the hospital and the Civil Defense Center, aiming to cause a humanitarian catastrophe, and denying access to treat those whom were affected by the chemical attack - thus killing as many people as possible.&quot;

Incident 2 - Medical Facilities Under Fire

Screen_Shot_2017-05-09_at_5.55.27_PM.png

Location: IDLIB : Heish Hospital: The health center in the town of Heish Date: 7 April 2017 Time: 04:15 Attacks: 10+ airstrikes Reported casualties: 10 Reported injured: 10 Munitions identified: Not available Alleged perpetrator: Russian or Syrian air force
The third hospital attack took place on 7 April 2017 in the town of Heish. The Civil Defense Center in Idlib <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAkmte0DnAc">published a video showing the rescue mission after the attack</a>, which occurred at approximately 03:55.
Orient News Agency <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSTjk6ERLb0">published a video</a> after the attack, a still from which is provided below:
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_11_at_11_06_30_AM_a6c4a634d3.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-11 at 11.06.30 AM.png">
In the video, Orient News reporter Mouhammed Faisal states at 00:20 &quot;The Heish town was attacked with two airstrikes which resulted of 8 casualties. Five of them are internally displaced people and the other three are from the Heish town itself. While rescuing the injured people as a result of the attack, we were targeted again by Russian air strikes which resulted in the destruction of the only medical point in town. It&#39;s completely out of service now.&quot;
Journalist Hadi Al Abdallah separately <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q552FQXLNc">published a video </a>showing destruction of civilian houses as a result of what he called Russian airstrikes on the town of Heish. At 00:05 in the video, he states: &quot;The Russian airstrikes targeted civilian houses in Heish town and resulted in 8 casualties and more than 10 injured. The casualties were families sleeping in their homes.&quot;
<img src="/uploads/heish2_df7de8ac6c.png" alt="heish2.png">
One of the rescuers conducted an interview with Hadi AlAbdallah. In the same video at 01:08, the rescuer states: &quot;At 03:55 the Russian air force conducted an airstrike, followed by another two airstrikes at 03:58 which resulted in 5 casualties including two children from one family, 3 other casualties from another family (parents and their 17 year old child), and 10 injured.&quot;
Thiqa News Agency <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vag_LHW_jMQ">published a video showing the impact site and an interview</a> with one of the rescuers at the site. The rescuer states: &quot;At 03:48 AM the first airstrike hit the medical point crosspoint, and then the second rocket hit here in this residential area which affected around 10 to 15 houses.&quot;
Other videos about this attack were published by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfMj49qh62k">Marra Now Media Network</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvTob2rVDDA">Jiser News Agency.</a> Both videos show the destruction of civilian houses.
To provide a further layer of verification, the Syrian Archive analysed flight observation data provided by a spotter organisation. This consisted of analysing observation data of flights between 02:00 and 04:00 pm, the period directly before and after the reported attack. See below:
<img src="/uploads/7_april_2017_with_arrows_width_800_2c61d00bce.png" alt="workflow">
Through comparing where flights were observed, the time they were observed, and the direction flights were heading, and comparing this data to geolocation conducted in earlier steps, the Syrian Archive was able to identify a potential flight seen circling very close to the geolocated attack site.
The report&#39;s source for flight observation data has found that circling flights typically indicate target acquisition and/or preparation for imminent attack. In this case, the flight observed near the attack site around 02:16 has been determined to likely be acquiring the target for the later attack. The flight used for the attack itself has been unable to be determined.
<img src="/uploads/h3_hospital_5eb53371e2.jpg" alt="h3-hospital.jpg">
As with previous incidents, though some aircraft are labelled &quot;Russian,&quot; it is possible the flight was operated by the Syrian air force, rather than the Russian air force, as the Syrian air force also used Russian planes.
Witness statements of the attack were provided jointly by Syrians for Truth and Justice and by Justice for Life. Abdul Basset Kernazy, director of the Medical centre in<a href="https://www.google.com.tr/maps/place/Hesh,+Syria/@35.5470319,36.6348981,2477m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x1524f67a394c7ecf:0x6196dd3aa455af04!8m2!3d35.5488997!4d36.6444758?hl=en"> Heesh</a> town, in the Idlib countryside, stated to the report&#39;s investigative team that on 7 April 2017, at about 4:15 at dawn, planes believed to be Russian, targeted the medical centre with two thermobaric missiles, causing considerable destruction to some parts of the medical centre. He said:
&quot;The airstrike - which shocked us while we were asleep - resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries among patients and medical personnel as well; many of the injured were transferred to nearby medical centres. After the raid was over, we moved the medical center to another place.&quot;
Khalid Halaby, a medic who was there in the medical centre at the moment of attack, confirmed to the investigative team that warplanes, believed to be Russian, targeted the centre and killed 10 people. He said:
&quot;We woke up on the sound of a strong explosion, soon we realised that Russian warplanes conducted raids on the medical centre. I, with the rest of the medical staff, rushed to see what happened and to provide aid to those who need it. We saw that most parts of the infirmary were devastated... Moreover, the airstrikes killed 10 civilians, 3 of them from Heesh, and 7 are displaced from Halfaya town located in Hama.&quot;
Halaby added that the bodies of the deceased were completely distorted to the extent that it was difficult to identify most of the dead; some of them, however, were able to be identified as:
<ol>
<li>Hamdo al-Ibrahim 
</li>
<li>Mustafa Hamdo al-Ibrahim 
</li>
<li>Hamdo al-Ibrahim`s wife
</li>
</ol>
Those injured were identified as:
<ol>
<li>Taha al-Ibrahim, 60. 
</li>
<li>Hassan Najeeb al-Ali, 48. 
</li>
<li>Mohammed al-Halaby, 65.
</li>
</ol>

Incident 3 - Medical Facilities Under Fire

Screen_Shot_2017-05-11_at_11.06.30_AM.png

Location: IDLIB : Shanan Hospital: Shanan Hospital Date: 17 April 2017 Time: 12:25 Attacks: Three airstrikes Reported casualties: not available Reported injured: 5 Beneficiary number: ~60.000 Reported injured: One injured from the Civil Defense team, and five between medical staff who were working in the hospital and patients who were being treated in the hospital. Weapon used: Not available Alleged perpetrator: Syrian or Russian air force
The fourth attack identified targeted Shanan hospital for women and children. It took place on 17 April 2017. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlLyo9V7xFo">The Syrian Archive verified a video showing</a> the first moment of the airstrike that targeted the hospital. See a still from the video below:
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_13_at_6_12_43_PM_8d3c3fb04b.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-13 at 6.12.43 PM.png">
The Civil Defense Center <a href="https://syrianarchive.org/en/database?location=%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8%20:%20%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86&term=Targeting%20the%20Children%20Hospital%20with%204%20airstrikes%20in%20Shinan&unit=030a2825">published a video showing the attacked hospital</a>, in which they claim was targeted with a double tap airstrike. This means that the hospital was attacked once with an airstrike, and followed shortly after by another airstrike after rescuers were at the scene.
In the video, a member of the Civil Defense states: &quot;We were in the centre when the first airstrike happened in Sarjeh. We divided into two teams, one team went to rescue civilians in Sarjeh and the other team stayed in the center. After a bit, the second airstrike targeted Shanan hospital. We went to the Shanan hospital to rescue civilians and doctors. The third airstrike targeted us during our rescue mission in Shanan hospital, but we continued doing our work until the fourth airstrike targeted the hospital but all civilians and doctors were out of the building by then.&quot; Stills from the video are provided below:
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_13_at_11_34_29_AM_28dfc9ea49.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-13 at 11.34.29 AM.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_13_at_11_33_49_AM_df417558a8.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-13 at 11.33.49 AM.png"> 
In the same video at 01:06, a member of the Civil Defense states: &quot;Today 17 April 2017, Shanan was targeted 3 airstrikes, there was 5 minutes between each attack. The first airstrike hit 5 meters close to the hospital which resulted of destruction in the hospital walls and windows. The Syrian Regime air force usually leave 3 to 4 minutes to do another airstrike to attack the people that are around the impact site. The Syrian Civil Defense was at the impact site during the airstrike but they were able to rescue civilians and hospital staff team.&quot;
An additional image, a still from the same video, showing one of the attack craters is provided below:
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_13_at_11_33_40_AM_d8c7d1b0ba.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-13 at 11.33.40 AM.png"> 
Step News Agency<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h31iOR3Obzg"> published an additional video </a>on 17 April 2017 which shows an injured colleague of theirs as a result of attacks in Shanan.
Another <a href="https://www.facebook.com/100014964467177/videos/193890404453107/">video published on Facebook by user محمد ابراهيم shows</a> the hospital after the attack. See below:
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_13_at_6_22_09_PM_2a6c297b61.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-13 at 6.22.09 PM.png">
Idlib Health Directorate additionally <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Idleb.Health.Directorate/posts/976718972431458">published a statement about the attack</a>, in which the incident is described. A screenshot of the Facebook statement is provided below:
<img src="/uploads/shanan_43ee551eba.png" alt="shanan.png"> 
The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) also published <a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/PRESS-RELEASE.html?soid=1125761508982&aid=GWoTB_55w8Q">a press release about the attack the following day, on 18 April 2017</a>.
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_13_at_6_26_04_PM_594e2c4aa5.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-13 at 6.26.04 PM.png">
Using stills from the Civil Defense video the Syrian Archive was able to create a panoramio image to get a better view of the impact site. See below:
<img src="/uploads/shanan_pano1_shannan_pano7_ba6bcae8b5.jpg" alt="shanan-pano1 - shannan-pano7.jpg"> 
By comparing the video with a satellite image acquired by DigitalGlobe, the Syrian Archive was able to geolocate the hospital, as shown below:
<img src="/uploads/shannan_satt_match_2577af13e3.png" alt="shannan-satt-match.png"> 
To provide a further layer of verification, the Syrian Archive analysed flight observation data provided by a spotter organisation. This consisted of analysing observation data of flights between 10:00 and 14:00, the period directly before and after the reported attack. See below:
 <img src="/uploads/17_april_2017_with_arrows_width_800_76fbbf6a28.png" alt="workflow">
Through comparing where flights were observed, the time they were observed, and the direction flights were heading, and comparing this data to geolocation conducted in earlier steps, the Syrian Archive was able to identify potential flights seen circling very close to the geolocated attack site.
Previous research has found that circling flights typically indicate target acquisition and/or preparation for imminent attack. In this case, the several flights by drones or by Russian aircraft were observed near the attack site around 11:20, which the Syrian Archive has determined were likely acquiring the target for the later attack.
Due to the large number of flights observed circling the attack site around 12:25, the time indicated by eyewitnesses as the time of the attack, knowing which of the aircraft was responsible for which of the three strikes is unable to be determined at this time. As with previous incidents, though some aircraft are labelled &quot;Russian,&quot; it is possible the flight was operated by the Syrian air force, rather than the Russian air force, as the Syrian air force also used Russian planes.
<img src="/uploads/h4_hospital_cddf7801af.jpg" alt="h4-hospital.jpg">
The map above demonstrates that the medical facility attacked was well within range of the aircraft detected. The three drones observed and, as well as the ten Russian planes observed and determined to likely be acquiring the target or potentially involved in the attack were detected circling 9.16km from the attack site.
Witness statements of the attack were provided jointly by Syrians for Truth and Justice and by Justice for Life. Abdel Salam Al-Amin, the Managing director of al-Ikhlas hospital in Shanan village, said in his statement:
&quot;On April 17, 2017, at 12:25 pm Damascus time, the hospital was targeted by seven sustained Sukhoi SU-24 affiliated to the Syrian regime; it caused the hospital to be completely out of service, and injured three from medical staff and two visitors as well… The most important thing to mention is that during the attack, one of the doctors at the hospital was performing a caesarean operation and she had to take the patient, while her abdomen was still open, to a nearby house to complete the operation.&quot;
Abdel Salam confirmed that the damage to the hospital was extensive. The operation and the incubator rooms were destroyed.

Incident 4 - Medical Facilities Under Fire

Screen_Shot_2017-05-13_at_11.34.29_AM.png

Location: IDLIB : Abadeen Hospital: The medical point of Abadeen Beneficiary number: ~6.000 people Date: 22 April 2017 Time: First attack: 14:30; Second attack: 17:15 Attacks: 2 air-to-ground attacks, 1 ground-to-ground attack Reported casualties: 4 Reported injured: 2 Munitions identified: Tochka series missile Alleged perpetrator: Russian or Syrian air force
The fifth hospital attack identified occurred on 22 April 2017. This attack targeted Abadeen, also known as the cave hospital as it is located inside of a cave. The Civil Defense team <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os8GoeOklv8">published a video</a> of going to the impact site after it was attacked. See below:
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_23_at_11_06_08_PM_3b5695f9e4.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-23 at 11.06.08 PM.png"> 
The video appears to show two bodies under rubble were recovered by the Civil Defense team. In the video, Civil Defense members mention one casualty under rubble who was a patient in the surgery room at the time of the attack.
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_23_at_11_04_28_PM_380e2ee5fc.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-23 at 11.04.28 PM.png"> 
Civil Defense members also mention three casualties, all from the same family, under rubble in another room of the hospital.
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_23_at_11_05_04_PM_ebd1278c71.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-23 at 11.05.04 PM.png"> 
Baladi News Agency <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWHQogaz3lQ">published a video</a> on their YouTube channel which shows the Civil Defense team removing rubble as a result of the attack.
Another <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6ZN2gtzhJY">video published</a> (Video evidence is removed from youtube but archived with the Syrian Archive ) by user &quot;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Wk09BgfP3gwBdmxnDvwPw">حسين الأدلبي</a>&quot; who works in the media office of Ashayer shows the destruction as a result of the attack against Abadeen hospital. In the video, the person filming states: &quot;The media office documents the location of Abadeen hospital that was targeted by the air force which resulted in more than 7 casualties and many injured. The Civil Defense team is removing the rubble to recover the bodies of casualties under it.&quot;
<img src="/uploads/h7_abadeen_508e791fec.png" alt="h7-abadeen.png"> 
Stills from the video show that the hospital is located in a cave for protection purposes. See below:
<img src="/uploads/h7_4_b462e82524.png" alt="h7_4.png"> 
Dr Abdul Rahman Hala&#39;a who is the manager of the coordination medical office of Al Shaam Association conducted <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMCDFdZmRQ">an interview with Smart News Agency </a> as well as with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EfbruA2Njo">Jiser news channel</a> after the attack.
In the interview, he stated: &quot;On 22 April 2017 one of Hamah hospitals was attacked. We mostly believe that it&#39;s by the Russian air force, as we heard from observation offices through walkie talkies. The hospital is completely out of service as a result of the attack. The attack resulted in many casualties, as well as injuries among the patients and the hospital team. A seven-year-old child was also among the casualties. She just had had an operation in the hospital this morning. Other patients were transferred to other hospitals after the attack. The building damage is about 80%, as well as the equipment in the hospital. The rocket that attacked the cave went through 7 - 10 meters of rock. Most of our equipment was damaged as a result of this attack. The Civil Defence came after the attack to rescue those injured and to recover the bodies of casualties, but the hospital was attacked again with cluster bombs which killed a child who was standing in the area next to the attacked site.&quot;
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_05_23_at_10_52_27_PM_c6b1fd9419.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-05-23 at 10.52.27 PM.png"> 
Qasioun News Agency <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPcakuncvTk">published a video</a> about this attack mentioning three people still alive under rubble and one casualty as a result of the Russian airstrike that targeted the hospital.
Fayad Abu Rass, who is a photographer from Idlib, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fead.aboras/posts/1889319601289317">published photos</a> from the attacked site showing the destruction of the hospital.
The Syrian Archive was able to geolocate the attacked hospital using the above videos and photos and comparing them to satellite imagery from [DigitalGlobe ©2017]. See below:
<img src="/uploads/Abdeen_hospital2_b14ade2e36.png" alt="Abdeen_hospital2.png"> 
The use of cluster bombs in this attack was reported in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyAiYhzDflk">video published </a>by the &quot;All4 Syria&quot; YouTube account, which shows the impact site from a different location.
<img src="/uploads/h7_6_092296e952.png" alt="h7_6.png"> 
The above photo has been geolocated, and it is very likely that the impact site of the reported cluster munition is very near the attacked hospital as shown below:
<img src="/uploads/Tochka_hit_1a36b07e91.png" alt="Tochka_hit.png"> 
After the hospital attack in Abadeen, the Civil Defense team in Idlib<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SyrianCivilDefenceIdlibWhiteHelmets/posts/1280770175355369"> published the following photos</a> mentioning a cluster munitions attack that targeted an area near the attacked hospital while the Civil Defense team was rescuing injured and recovering casualties.
This attack resulted in one casualty and an injury for a man and his son. The injured child was getting treatment when the attack happened, as mentioned in the commentary for the photos below: 
<img src="/uploads/injuredabadeen_87fc513648.png" alt="injuredabadeen.png"> 
Remnants of the missile used to attack the area surrounding the Abadeen Hospital (the second attack after the initial targeting of the hospital as mentioned earlier) were documented<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRet4s_ZiGQ"> in a video</a> that was published by the YouTube channel of user &quot;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_Fbrq7EuUfwG3YRfyekEg">Kaes Idlby</a>&quot;. See still from the video below: 
<img src="/uploads/weaponh7_23dfe208b8.png" alt="weaponh7.png"> 
From the photo above, it has been determined that the missile pictured in the photo is a Russian made <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS-21_Scarab">Tochka series missile</a>, as described<a href="http://lostarmour.info/articles/tochki-nad-u/"> in a public </a>website called lostarmour.info. 
<img src="/uploads/difference_tochka1_27b6d857a2.jpg" alt="difference_tochka1.jpg"> 
Below is the <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS-21_Scarab">effective range of Tochka</a>.
<img src="/uploads/tochka_range_9ee4e3cb73.jpg" alt="tochka-range.jpg"> 
The Hama Health Directorate <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Idleb.Health.Directorate/photos/a.648305141939511.1073741828.648124961957529/981613398608682/?type=3&theater">published a report about the incident</a> on their public Facebook page. The report stated: &quot;On Saturday 22-04-2017, the Markazi hospital in Abadeen was targeted with a Russian airstrike resulting in 5 casualties from patients and civilians as well as 2 injured civilians and 2 injured from the medical team of the hospital. The attack resulted in getting the hospital out of service as well as destroying its equipments, laboratory, rooms and a van car.&quot;
<img src="/uploads/abadeen_report_b988bc899a.png" alt="abadeen-report.png"> 
An additional <a href="http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Attacks%20on%20hospitals%20Press%20Statement%20EN_Clean.pdf">statement about this attack was published</a> by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Comparing two satellite images from [DigitalGlobe ©2017] before (21 February 2017) and after (19 May 2017) the attack (22 April 2017), the Syrian Archive was able to identify damage to the medical facility. See below:
<img src="/uploads/abadeen_before_after_c7574569b2.png" alt="abadeen-before-after.png"> 
To provide a further layer of verification, the Syrian Archive analysed flight observation data provided by a spotter organisation. This consisted of analysing observation data of flights between 13:00 and 19:00, the period directly before and after the reported attack. See below:
<img src="/uploads/22_april_2017_3_with_arrows_width_800_abf0942f4b.png" alt="workflow">
Through comparing where flights were observed, the time they were observed, and the direction flights were heading, and comparing this data to geolocation conducted in earlier steps, the Syrian Archive was able to identify potential flights seen circling very close to the geolocated attack site.
The report&#39;s source for flight observation data has found that circling flights typically indicate target acquisition and/or preparation for imminent attack. In this case, two flights by Russian aircraft were observed near the attack site around 13:20, which the Syrian Archive has determined to be likely responsible for the attack.
<img src="/uploads/h5_hospital_1e37041f2c.jpg" alt="h5-hospital.jpg"> 
The map above demonstrates that the medical facility attacked was well within range of the aircraft detected. The Russian plane observed and determined to potentially be involved in the attack was detected circling 15.5km from the attack site.
The second attack, at around 17:15, was unlikely to be committed by a flight, as the munition identified in the attack was a Tochka series missile, a ballistic missile series which tend to be launched from the ground due to their size and weight (approximately 2,000kg). Tochka series missiles have a range of between 70-185 km, well within the range to be launched from the ground in regime held territory.
As with previous incidents, though some aircraft are labelled &quot;Russian,&quot; it is possible the flight was operated by the Syrian air force, rather than the Russian air force, as the Syrian air force also used Russian planes.
Witness statements of the attack were provided jointly by Syrians for Truth and Justice and by Justice for Life. In his statement, Mustafa al-Mesri, the Managing Director of the Central Hospital in<a href="https://www.google.com.tr/maps/place/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%8C+Syria%E2%80%AD/@35.4677825,36.5291547,2480m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x152460d91c48feb1:0x29d096efd4f03865!8m2!3d35.4680617!4d36.5364751?hl=en"> Abdeen town</a>, informed the report&#39;s investigative team that the Central hospital - also known as the cave hospital because it is located inside a cave on the northern outskirts of Abdeen town - was bombed with two high explosive concussion rockets on 22 April 2017.
This caused an explosion inside the hospital that killed 3 civilians and injured a number of the medical personnel and the patients with serious injuries. In addition, it led the hospital to be completely out of service. Al-Mesri stated:
&quot;On April 22, 2017, at about 2:00 pm, the Russian warplanes targeted the hospital with two high explosive rockets: the first hit the operating room and the other targeted the patients ward, the laboratory, the emergency room and the radiation oncologists as well. As a result, four patients were killed; they were identified as Mohammed Abu Zayed, Iyad Saleh, his wife and his 8-year-old daughter.&quot;
One of the Civil Defense members of Habit Center who declined to disclose his real name, said that the attack on the Central Hospital in Abdeen was possibly conducted using high explosive ground-to-ground missiles, which forced the Civil Defense team to do great efforts to rescue people who were trapped in the rubble. The Civil Defense member added:
&quot;At the exact moment of shelling the Central Hospital, we were in Al-Habit town warning people about the Russian&#39;s warplanes raids and at about 2:00 pm we heard a call through the observatories that we had to flee to Abdeen Central Hospital. Immediately we went to the hospital – since we were the nearest Civil Defense center to Abdeen town- as soon as we arrived, we started to help a nurse who was lying on the ground, while a medical team was helping two others. After that, we searched the rubble and managed to take out a displaced young man who was still alive and we learned that he was a patient. We continued searching and a few hours later we found a displaced young man from Halfaya in Hama and we took him out from under the rubble, but he was dead. The next day, we continued removing the rubble and we managed to get to the completely devastated operation room. We found three bodies from the same family, a father, his wife and their 8-year-old daughter.&quot;

Incident 5 - Medical Facilities Under Fire

h7-abadeen.png

Location: IDLIB : Kafar Takharim Hospital: Kafar Takharim Hospital Beneficiary number: ~200.000 people Date: 25 April 2017 Time: 02:00 Damascus time Attacks: Two airstrikes Reported casualties: not available Reported injured: not available Weapon used: not available Alleged perpetrator: Syrian or Russian air force
The sixth hospital attack identified occurred on 25 April 2017. The Civil Defense <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G1B3M6qIqc">published a video </a>which documented them going to the targeted site after the attack. In the video, it is possible to hear someone saying through the walkie talkie: &quot;They implemented the strike,&quot; and then at 01:18, the sound of the attack is heard.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXEA4C1SHUI">Another video published</a> by SMO News Agency shows the attacked site immediately after the airstrike. In this video, a person is heard saying: &quot;Kafar Takharim surgery hospital has been attacked with two rockets resulting in a civilian injured and damage in and around the building. The hospital is out of service as a result of the attack.&quot;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ6BZDIwW0AjmXe_sL0u3Zg">Eba Agency &quot;وكالة إباء</a>&quot; also published a video, which features an interview with the Director of the &quot;Nabeel Saed&quot; hospital. The video mentions that two Russian airstrikes targeted the hospital as staff was treating injured people attacked earlier around midnight.
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_06_06_at_4_26_45_PM_3574a8212d.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-06-06 at 4.26.45 PM.png">
A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI0XK2pPV5o&feature=youtu.be">video published</a> on 25 April 2017 by the YouTube channel of user &quot;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59kYDliZkiyxOxmPuQTx4A">مراسل صحفي اا</a>&quot; shows the destruction the day after the attack where a huge crater is visible. See still from the video below:
<img src="/uploads/cratertakhareem_f078392b67.png" alt="cratertakhareem.png"> 
Orient news <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69rNCv6Shxw">published a separate video</a> showing the crater in front of the hospital, as well as the damaged building and cars. See stills from the video below:
<img src="/uploads/craterinfrontthehospitaltakhareem_0b1cea9f13.png" alt="craterinfrontthehospitaltakhareem.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/witness_hospital_47d14dc841.png" alt="witness-hospital.png"> 
In the video, one of the medical workers who witnessed the attack stated: &quot;At 12:30 Kafar Takharim was targeted with airstrikes...During our work to aid and rescue the injured people, the hospital was targeted with two thermobaric rockets that damaged the hospital, and as a result it&#39;s out of service. Also the team of the hospital was injured. The hospital stock was completely damaged too.&quot;
<img src="/uploads/women_witness_interview_d20cadfe10.png" alt="women-witness-interview.png"> 
Another witness who was present during the attack stated: &quot;Two airstrikes targeted the hospital as we were rescuing the injured people who were attacked during the night. We found ourselves under rubble and four were injured from the medical team.&quot;
The Syrian Archive was able to geolocate the hospital based on the verified visual content related to incident and comparing this to Google Earth. See below:
<img src="/uploads/Screen_Shot_2017_06_06_at_4_50_19_PM_750e876806.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017-06-06 at 4.50.19 PM.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/google_earth_kafar_takhareem_76bc251a16.jpg" alt="google_earth_kafar_takhareem.jpg"> 
The location of the hospital is near a residential area and there appears to be no nearby military operations.
To provide a further layer of verification, the Syrian Archive analysed flight observation data provided by a spotter organisation. This consisted of analysing observation data of flights between 0:00 and 4:00, the period directly before and after the reported attack. See below:
<img src="/uploads/25_april_2017_with_arrows_width_800_2bfb6a72fb.png" alt="workflow">
Through comparing where flights were observed, the time they were observed, and the direction flights were heading, and comparing this data to geolocation conducted in earlier steps, the Syrian Archive was able to identify potential flights seen circling very close to the geolocated attack site.
Previous research has found that circling flights typically indicate target acquisition and/or preparation for imminent attack. In this case, the several flights by drones or by Russian aircraft were observed near the attack site around 00:40, which the Syrian Archive has determined were likely acquiring the target for the later attack.
The flights seen circling the attack site in the period around 02:00, indicated in the visualisation above, were likely the aircraft responsible for the attack. As with previous incidents, though some aircraft are labelled &quot;Russian,&quot; it is possible the flight was operated by the Syrian air force, rather than the Russian air force, as the Syrian air force also used Russian planes.
<img src="/uploads/h6_hospital_b9fd7503ae.jpg" alt="h6-hospital.jpg">
Witness statements of the attack were provided jointly by Syrians for Truth and Justice and by Justice for Life. In his statement, Dr. Waleed Mohammed, a specialist in orthopedic surgery, and the Director of the Shahid Wassim Husseino Hospital in Kafr Takharim, told the investigative team:
&quot;At about 2:00 am the Russian/Syrian warplanes targeted the hospital with two airstrikes that led the hospital to be completely out of service... The attack was conducted after targeting the ​​Duwailah area, and the wounded were transferred to the hospital given that it is located in a border area far away from the combat areas. All this highlights that the main aim of bombing is to destroy the infrastructure of all hospitals in the opposition areas.&quot;

Incident 6 - Medical Facilities Under Fire

craterinfrontthehospitaltakhareem.png

Location: IDLIB : Deir Sharqi Hospital: The university hospital of Deir Sharqi Date: 27 April 2017 Time: 05:15 Beneficiary number: ~600.000 people Attacks: 5 airstrikes airstrikes Reported casualties: 3 Reported injured: not available Weapon used: not available Alleged perpetrator: Syrian or Russian air force
The seventh hospital attack identified occurred on 27 April 2017. Hadi Al Abdallah has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCqA8uzVklg">published a video</a> on his YouTube channel at 08:24 Damascus time showing the destruction in the hospital after the attack. See below:
<img src="/assets/Screenshot_from_2017-06-13_13-22-47.png" alt="Screenshot from 2017-06-13 13-22-47.png"> 
Sun analysis demonstrates that the video was filmed in the early morning hours. See below:
<img src="/uploads/ds22_1d962882cb.png" alt="ds22.png"> 
At <a href="https://youtu.be/iCqA8uzVklg?t=2m3s">02:03 of the video above</a>: Hadi Al Abdallah is seen interviewing one of the Civil Defense team members during the rescue mission. In his interview, Al Abdullah states: &quot;The university hospital was targeted in Deir Sharqi by airstrikes. After the first airstrike the civil defense team went to rescue civilians and there were big number of injured and casualties. The second attack that included four airstrikes happened while the civil defence were rescuing injured civilians or recovering casualties&quot;
Separately, Qasioun News Agency <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkq2gw9yWXg">published a video</a> showing what they claim to be the first moments of the attack against the hospital in Dar Sharqi. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g55RZibwxVY">An additional video</a> about the first moment of the attack was published by Step News Agency.
The Civil Defense team <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0o2LbPzFOA">published a video </a>showing the rescue operations. The Syrian Archive was able to geolocate the hospital using public information and video footage, and comparing it to satellite imagery acquired from** [DigitalGlobe ©2017] ** taken before the attack. Also huge crater, which was formed as a result of the attack, can been seen in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTkZ2bciD38">a video published </a>by Orient News Agency. See below:
<img src="/uploads/ds_sat_3_687e87a308.png" alt="ds-sat-3.png"> 
This raises the possibility that an air to ground attack was conducted around the hospital. The smaller building located to the western side of the building was attacked and completely destroyed, as shown in the video published by Orient News. See still from the video below:
<img src="/uploads/ds_sat4_31a0b1ebc5.png" alt="ds-sat4.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/ds_sat_5_other_direction_building_25fae9b4c7.png" alt="ds-sat-5-other-direction-building.png"> 
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3qlceFvP7g">Muaz Al-Shami</a>, a citizen journalist, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvDv5CwTPr8">Qasioun News Agency</a> have separately published videos showing those injured and the casualties as a result of this attack, as well as the damage to the hospital building.
This damage includes damage to interior of the hospital, as well as to its equipment, medical stock, and oxygen-tank supply, as seen in the following video stills:
<img src="/uploads/ds14_f9ae15dea4.png" alt="ds14.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/ds9_566099ebfa.png" alt="ds9.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/ds12_a614d7bdfb.png" alt="ds12.png"> 
Videos filmed by Qasioun News Agency and by the citizen journalist &quot;Hadi Alabdallah&quot; show that the roof of the hospital building was hit. See stills from the videos below:
<img src="/uploads/ds8_b4e1292583.png" alt="ds8.png"> 
That the hospital building was hit from above raises the possibility of an air to ground attack that targeted the hospital directly.
To provide a further layer of verification, the Syrian Archive analysed flight observation data provided by a spotter organisation. This consisted of analysing observation data flights between 03:00 and 07:00, the period directly before and after the reported attack. See below:
<img src="/uploads/27_april_2017b_2_with_arrows_width_800_b026845779.png" alt="workflow">
Through comparing where flights were observed, the time they were observed, and the direction flights were heading, and comparing this data to geolocation conducted in earlier steps, the Syrian Archive was able to identify potential flights seen circling very close to the geolocated attack site.
The report&#39;s source for flight observation data has found that circling flights typically indicate target acquisition and/or preparation for imminent attack. The flights seen circling the attack site in the period around 05:20, indicated in the visualisation above, were likely the aircraft responsible for the attack, confirming witness accounts that an attack on the hospital occurred at 05:15. As with previous incidents, though some aircraft are labelled &quot;Russian,&quot; it is possible the flight was operated by the Syrian air force, rather than the Russian air force, as the Syrian air force also used Russian planes.
<img src="/uploads/h7_hospital_030fd3a7c4.jpg" alt="h7-hospital.jpg"> 
The map above demonstrates that the medical facility attacked was well within range of the aircraft detected. The three Russian planes observed and determined to potentially be involved in the attack was detected circling 5km from the attack site directly after the attack had taken place.
Witness statements of the attack was provided jointly by Syrians for Truth and Justice and by Justice for Life. In his statement to the investigative team, neurologist and hospital staff member Mohammed Al-jesry stated:
&quot;On April 27, 2017, exactly at 05:15 am at dawn, the attack occurred when I was still awake in the hospital...Warplanes directly targeted the hospital with two sustained strikes, we immediately rushed again into the hospital, as soon as the strikes stopped, because there were three to four patients in the intensive care room, but unfortunately, they had died because the gas supply was broken, [which] consequently caused the oxygen to be cut from the patients. Moreover, some members of the medical stuff were injured, and 90% of the hospital was almost completely destroyed because the Russian planes used concussion rockets in the attacks.&quot;

Incident 7 - Medical Facilities Under Fire

ds14.png

Location: IDLIB : Mar Zita Medical point: The Shamna medical point in Mar Zita Date: 27 April 2017 Time: 07:15 Attacks: Two airstrikes airstrikes Reported casualties: 5 medical workers Reported injured: not available Weapon used: not available Alleged perpetrator: Syrian or Russian air force
The eighth hospital attack identified took place on 27 April 2017. Hadi Al Abdallah, a citizen journalist, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUNQf08JUs4">published a video </a>about the attack showing the medical point on fire as a result of airstrikes. See below:
<img src="/uploads/mz_24_91975605be.png" alt="mz-24.png"> 
In the video, members of the Civil Defence team can be seen extinguishing the fire as a result of the attack. Hadi Al Abdallah conducted an interview with one of the medical workers from the hospital, who stated: &quot;Today at 07:00 this morning, the Russian air force targeted Shamel medical facility with more than one airstrike, which resulted in a large explosion and many injured and casualties including medical workers and White Helmet rescue workers. The attacks on hospitals intended to destroy all hospitals in Idlib.&quot;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CueL4_ku0ao">Smart News Agency also published a video </a>showing the attacked site and features an interview with one of the Civil Defense team who was part of the rescue mission. The Civil Defense member stated:
&quot;The Russian air force is targeting all hospitals and medical points in Idlib. Today they attacked the university hospital in Deir Sharqi and now the medical point of Shamna has been targeted as well with two airstrikes. The white helmet team came to rescue the people after the first airstrike and then they were attacked with another airstrike during the rescue mission which resulted of injuries and casualties&quot;.
RSF Media Office also <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHUmNsgSoh4">published a video </a>showing the destruction of the hospital, its ambulance cars, as well as its medical stock. See stills from the video below:
<img src="/uploads/mz_26_521218d050.png" alt="mz-26.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/mz_09_ee9f1e0efc.png" alt="mz-09.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/mz_08_9c39177f4e.png" alt="mz-08.png"> 
Using stills from the videos above, and using Hugin software, the Syrian Archive was able to stitch photos to clearly see the impact site. See below:
<img src="/assetssham-maz-pano2_-_sham-mz-pano7.png" alt="sham-maz-pano2 - sham-mz-pano7.png"> 
Smoke as a result of the attack can been seen, as well as objects that the Syrian Archive was able to identify from a recently acquired satellite image from DigitalGlobe ©2017 that was taken on 21 February 2017. See below:
<img src="/uploads/mz_satt_building_test1_2afab5a292.png" alt="mz-satt-building-test1.png"> 
<img src="/uploads/mz_satt_building_final_9e3abb9f67.png" alt="mz-satt-building-final.png"> 
To provide a further layer of verification, the Syrian Archive analysed flight observation data provided by a spotter organisation. This consisted of analysing observation data of flights between 07:00 and 10:00, the period directly before and after the reported attack. See below:
Through comparing where flights were observed, the time they were observed, and the direction flights were heading, and comparing this data to geolocation conducted in earlier steps, the Syrian Archive was able to identify potential flights seen circling very close to the geolocated attack site.
<img src="/uploads/27_april_2017b_3_width_800_812c09328f.png" alt="workflow">
Previous research has found that circling flights typically indicate target acquisition and/or preparation for imminent attack. In this case, several flights Russian aircraft were observed near the attack site around 07:20, which the Syrian Archive has determined were likely responsible for the attack.
As with previous incidents, though some aircraft are labelled &quot;Russian,&quot; it is possible the flight was operated by the Syrian air force, rather than the Russian air force, as the Syrian air force also used Russian planes.
<img src="/uploads/h8_hospital_f5c90819f0.jpg" alt="h8-hospital.jpg"> 
The map above demonstrates that the medical facility attacked was well within range of the aircraft detected. One Russian plane observed and determined to potentially be involved in the attack was detected circling 6.2km from the attack site 10 minutes prior to the attack. The other Russian plane observed and determined to potentially be involved in the attack was detected circling 6.26km from the attack site 33 minute after the initial attack.
Witness statements of the attack were provided jointly by Syrians for Truth and Justice and by Justice for Life. In his statement to the investigative team, Abu Samer al-Hamawi, a nurse who works for Shamna Ambulance System in Ma&#39;arr Zita located in the countryside of Idlib, said that warplanes believed to be Russian carried out an airstrike on Shamna Ambulance System on 27 April 2017, exactly at 07:15. The attack killed five people, including paramedics and visitors, injured others, and caused extensive material damage to the ambulance system so that it was rendered out of service. Al-Hamawi said:
**&quot;The Shamna Ambulance System is an emergency center that provides emergency services and the first aid to those who need it during the attacks. It also includes a drug store and other medical supplies such as, gauze, povidone, and sterilizers. The center serves the town of Ma&#39;ar Zita and all the surrounding villages. I still remember well the morning of April 27, 2017. I was at home near the center when it was bombed by Russian warplanes, and I immediately rushed to look for my friends and colleagues in the system. ****I was shocked when I saw Ahmad Suleiman, my colleague, seriously injured; I tried to transfer him by car because the ambulance cars were completely burned.&quot;**
Al-Hamawi clarified that when the Civil Defense teams arrived at the Ambulance System in order to put the fires out that the initial bombing caused, Russian warplanes reiterated shelling the centre with high-explosive rockets, killing 5 people and wounding a number of Civil Defense members. The attack resulted in considerable material damage to the fire truck affiliated to the Civil Defense and the burning of a car that belonged to one of the visitors. Al-Hamawi noted that renovation of the Ambulance System is still undergoing up until the writing this report.
According to al- Hamawi, the deaths from the targeting of Shamna emergency system are identified as:
<ol>
<li>Amina al-Hamawiya, a patient. 
</li>
<li>Majid Mohammed al-Omar, a medic. 
</li>
<li>Saleh Ahmad al-Rahmon, a patient. 
</li>
<li>Ahmed Suleiman, a medic. 
</li>
<li>Yousef Sotel, a medic from the Sheikh Mostafa ambulance section.
</li>
</ol>
Mousa Zedan, a Civil Defense member, who was one of the first arrivals at the Shamna Ambulance System following the bombing, confirmed that the Russian warplanes targeted the fuel stores of the system and caused large fires. It targeted as well the gathering point for cars belonging to the ambulance system; there were about 7-8 cars. Zedan continued:
&quot;Fires and smoke spread everywhere. We worked hard to put out the fires, and then we evacuated the wounded. I remember that fires lasted from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, this state needed the fire teams from Ma&#39;arat al-Nu&#39;man, Kafranbel and Heesh centers to join us in putting out the fires.&quot;

INVESTIGATIONS

Medical Facilities Under Fire

Table Of Contents

.css-68jq5d{padding-bottom:1.45rem;color:#ffffff;-webkit-transition:0.25s;transition:0.25s;}.css-68jq5d:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}INVESTIGATIONS

Medical Facilities Under Fire

Table Of Contents

INVESTIGATIONS