September 2017 witnessed a sharp increase in attacks on the medical and relief sector in Syria. The main reason for this increase was the Russian onslaught on Idlib, which began on 19/9/2017.
The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) documented the targeting of nine hospitals and medical points, six of which were in Idlib, two in rural Damascus and one in Aleppo. Russian war planes were responsible for seven of these attacks, whilst Syrian regime warplanes were responsible for two.
Altogether, the attacks killed three nurses and two paramedics.
SHRC also documented the targeting of five civil defence centres, all of which were in Idlib. Russian war planes were responsible for four of these attacks whilst Syrian regime war planes were responsible for one.
The attacks on the civil defence led to the killing of one officer, the injury of six others, and caused great material damage to 12 ambulances.