Russia denies 'war crime' claim after fatal hospital airstrikes

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said allegations that Russia was behind the bombing of a hospital in Syria must be investigated.

The Kremlin yesterday rejected claims that Russia had committed a 'war crime' stating accusations its jets were behind the hospital bombing were "unfounded".

It comes after almost 50 civilians were thought to have been killed in missile attacks in northern Syria.

ITV Middle East Correspondent Geraint Vincent reports:

Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn has said the bombing of two hospitals in northern Syria on Monday was "completely unacceptable" and a "clear breach of international humanitarian law".

The Labour MP said: “Those responsible must be brought to justice and it reinforces the need for the United Nations Security Council to refer this situation to the International Criminal Court.

“These continuing air attacks on civilians by Russia and the Syrian government must end immediately through the implementation of a ceasefire.”

Turkey has accused Russia of being responsible for the airstrikes. Russia has denied the allegations.

Former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell has said that if allegations that Russia has been bombing Syrian hospitals is true then it would "undoubtedly" be a war crime.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme following the shelling of an MSF hospital yesterday Mitchell said: "Everyone knew this was a Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) hospital and undoubtedly this is a breach of the international law."

Turkey has accused Russia of being behind the missile attacks in northern Syria which are believed to have killed as many as 50 people on Monday, but the Kremlin has stated the claims were 'unfounded'.

The Kremlin has rejected claims that Russia has committed a 'war crime' amid accusations it was behind the bombing of a hospital in Syria.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the claims made by Turkey were "unfounded accusations".

He said: "We categorically do not accept such statements, the more so as every time those making these statements are unable to prove their unfounded accusations in any way."

It comes after almost 50 civilians were thought to have been killed in missile attacks in northern Syria which reportedly hit several medical facilities and schools on Monday.

Turkish military sources have claimed armed forces were returning "fire in kind" into Syria as it began its fourth straight day of shelling in the war-torn region.

It comes the day after Turkey warned Kurdish militia fighters in northern Syria they would face the "harshest reaction" if they tried to capture a town near the Turkish border.

Turkey has accused Russia of an "obvious war crime" after airstrikes thought to have killed up to 50 civilians in northern Syria.

Two schools, a hospital and a Medecins Sans Frontieres medical centre near the Turkish-Syrian border were hit by missiles, killing tens of people.

The strikes occurred as Russian-backed Syrian troops intensified their push toward the rebel stronghold of Aleppo.

The Turkish Prime Minister and local residents said the strikes were likely to have been by Russian or Syrian government forces.

Russia said it was targeting so-called Islamic State militants and denied its planes had targeted civilian areas.

The Turkish foreign ministry warned that bigger and more serious consequences would be inevitable if Russia does not immediately end such attacks.

There has been widespread condemnation after almost 50 civilians were killed in missile attacks on at least five medical facilities and two schools in northern Syria, according to the United Nations.

The attacks took place in the town of Idlib in northern Syria and Azaz near the Turkish border.

Medicens Sans Frontieres said seven people including five patients had died after a hospital supported by the medical charity was hit, with eight members of staff reported missing.

Middle East Correspondent Geraint Vincent reports:

Turkey's foreign ministry has accused Russia of carrying out "an obvious war crime" on a hospital near the Turkey-Syria border which was hit by missiles on Monday.

Tens of people were killed when two schools, a hospital and a Medecins Sans Frontieres medical centre were hit by the airstrikes in the town of

It comes as Syrian troops have been intensifying their push toward the rebel stronghold of Aleppo, backed by Russia.

Turkey warned that bigger and more serious consequences would be inevitable if Russia does not immediately end attacks of this nature.

The US has condemned in "the strongest possible terms" the intensified bombing in northern Syria.

In a press briefing, the White House said that the latest bombing goes against commitments, made by Russia and the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Munich, to a ceasefire in the beleaguered country.

The latest attacks, apparently from Russian or Syrian aircraft, killed up to 50 people when medical facilities and a school were hit.

• Assad: Ceasefire does not mean not using weapons

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said that if a ceasefire happens between parties involved the country's ongoing conflict, "it doesn't mean each party will stop using weapons".

In an interview on broadcast on state TV, he also insisted nobody was capable of securing the conditions for a ceasefire within a week.

His comments come after world powers agreed to implement a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria at a conference in Munich last week.

"A ceasefire, a halt to operations, if it happened, it doesn't mean that each party will stop using weapons.

"A ceasefire means in the first place halting the terrorists from strengthening their positions."

"Movement of weapons, equipment or terrorists, or fortification of positions, will not be allowed", he added.