Airstrike destroys hospital in Syria

An airstrike on a pediatric hospital in Syria has killed 50 people. The UN

describes the situation in Syria’s city of Aleppo as catastrophic.

Al Quds field hospital, situated in a rebel-held neighborhood in Aleppo, was hit by a missile from a fighter jet Wednesday. At least 27 people killed in this attack, while more than 30 died in other attacks.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the attack and pointed a finger of blame at the Syrian government.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said at least 14 patients and three doctors had been killed in the air strike on al-Quds hospital.

Local sources blamed war planes from the Syrian military or from Russia, which is supporting the government of President Bashar al-Assad, for the attack. However Syrian military denied targeting the hospital.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on both the US and Russia to exert pressure to stop the violence, and demanded a credible investigation into the hospital attack.

At least 148 civilians have been killed in Aleppo in the past six days, according to the Observatory 99 on the opposition side and 49 on the Syrian government side of the conflict.

Syria’s conflict started in 2011 and has raged on for years, with more than 250,000 killed, according to the United Nations. It started as an anti-government protest as Syrians nationwide demanded reform and the release of political protesters.