Aleppo hospital bombed for second time in days as Syrian army presses assault

The largest hospital in rebel-held east Aleppo was bombed for the second time in days as Syrian government forces pressed a Russian-backed offensive to retake the entire city.

As the situation for civilians in Aleppo grows increasingly dire, the hospital was hit by barrel bombs on Saturday.

The medical organisation that supports it said, "Two barrel bombs hit the M10 hospital and there were reports of a cluster bomb as well." 

Adham Sahloul of the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) said a small group of patients and doctors "were inside the hospital for basic triage, bandaging, and cleaning services for emergency cases" when the bombardment began.

In an audio message that was distributed to journalists, a hospital administrator could be heard making an urgent call for help from inside M10. "The hospital is being destroyed! SOS, everyone!" 

The hospital had come under attack earlier on Wednesday, along with the second largest hospital in the area, M2. 

Doctors said the new bombing in front of the hospital has forced the staff to evacuate all patients to another hospital. 

The bombardment badly damaged the two facilities and left only six fully-functional hospitals in east Aleppo, according to SAMS.

The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) medical charity warned Friday that "bombs are raining" over the city, turning east Aleppo into "a giant kill box". 

The World Health Organization has called Syria the world's most dangerous place for health workers, and Aleppo, in particular, has seen much of its medical infrastructure destroyed or heavily damaged. 

(WION with inputs from AFP)