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Isis advance in Syria: Hospital evacuated and 100,000 feared displaced as militants move towards Azaz | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A hospital has been evacuated and as many as 100,000 people are feared displaced after a new Isis offensive near the Turkish border in Syria. | |
Militants have seized several towns and villages from rebels and are advancing on the city of Azaz. | Militants have seized several towns and villages from rebels and are advancing on the city of Azaz. |
Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said it was evacuating medics and patients from the Al Salamah hospital as the Islamists neared. | |
It said a basic team would remain to help the ill and wounded and that around 100,000 displaced people living in the rebel enclave were under threat. | It said a basic team would remain to help the ill and wounded and that around 100,000 displaced people living in the rebel enclave were under threat. |
Pablo Marco, an operations manager at the humanitarian organisation, said: “We are terribly concerned about the fate of our hospital, our patients and for the estimated 100,000 people trapped between the Turkish border and active frontlines. | Pablo Marco, an operations manager at the humanitarian organisation, said: “We are terribly concerned about the fate of our hospital, our patients and for the estimated 100,000 people trapped between the Turkish border and active frontlines. |
“For some months the frontlines have been around seven kilometres away from the hospital and now they’re only 3km (2 miles) from Al Salamah town. | “For some months the frontlines have been around seven kilometres away from the hospital and now they’re only 3km (2 miles) from Al Salamah town. |
“There is nowhere for people to flee as the fighting gets closer.” | “There is nowhere for people to flee as the fighting gets closer.” |
In a propaganda statement, Isis claimed to have taken control of seven villages from the Free Syrian Army and “apostate” fighters. | In a propaganda statement, Isis claimed to have taken control of seven villages from the Free Syrian Army and “apostate” fighters. |
In Kaljibrin, there were reports that militants had publicly executed rebel fighters and their families, including women and children, in a main square. | In Kaljibrin, there were reports that militants had publicly executed rebel fighters and their families, including women and children, in a main square. |
Isis said it had seized American-made weapons from “US-vetted” groups in the advance, although it was impossible to verify the claim. | Isis said it had seized American-made weapons from “US-vetted” groups in the advance, although it was impossible to verify the claim. |
The Isis offensive has split rebel-held territory in northern Aleppo Governorate into two, leaving a thin sliver linking the city of Azaz to the Turkish border and town of Marea, bordered on the other side by Kurdish groups. | The Isis offensive has split rebel-held territory in northern Aleppo Governorate into two, leaving a thin sliver linking the city of Azaz to the Turkish border and town of Marea, bordered on the other side by Kurdish groups. |
Syrian rebel factions in the area, which includes the border crossing of Bab al-Salama, have also come under fire from pro-government forces and the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces in recent months. | Syrian rebel factions in the area, which includes the border crossing of Bab al-Salama, have also come under fire from pro-government forces and the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces in recent months. |
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday's advance also effectively cut off a key supply route between Azaz and Marea, another opposition stronghold. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday's advance also effectively cut off a key supply route between Azaz and Marea, another opposition stronghold. |
Both Azaz and the Bab al-Salama crossing have been a lifeline for the opposition since the town fell into rebel hands in 2012 but are being threatened by Russian air strikes and fighting. | Both Azaz and the Bab al-Salama crossing have been a lifeline for the opposition since the town fell into rebel hands in 2012 but are being threatened by Russian air strikes and fighting. |
MSF and other aid organisations warned earlier this month that the humanitarian situation for over 100,000 people trapped in the Azaz rebel-held pocket was critical. | MSF and other aid organisations warned earlier this month that the humanitarian situation for over 100,000 people trapped in the Azaz rebel-held pocket was critical. |
Isis’ latest advance came days after the Syrian Democratic Forces announced an assault against the group’s territories in northern Raqqa province. | Isis’ latest advance came days after the Syrian Democratic Forces announced an assault against the group’s territories in northern Raqqa province. |
In Iraq, the group is battling to hold the city of Fallujah amid an advance by government forces and Iranian and Shia militias. | In Iraq, the group is battling to hold the city of Fallujah amid an advance by government forces and Iranian and Shia militias. |
Jabhat al-Nusra has also claimed recent gains in Deir Khabiyeh, south of Damascus, where government forces and Hezbollah have captured territory from insurgents. | Jabhat al-Nusra has also claimed recent gains in Deir Khabiyeh, south of Damascus, where government forces and Hezbollah have captured territory from insurgents. |
Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy for Syria, said he plans for a resumption of peace talks “as soon as feasible” between the Government and opposition but expects that it will “certainly not” come within the next two to three weeks. | Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy for Syria, said he plans for a resumption of peace talks “as soon as feasible” between the Government and opposition but expects that it will “certainly not” come within the next two to three weeks. |
Isis and the al-Qaeda linked Jabhat al-Nusra are excluded from negotiations, which were suspended last month between Bashar al-Assad’s government and other rebels. | Isis and the al-Qaeda linked Jabhat al-Nusra are excluded from negotiations, which were suspended last month between Bashar al-Assad’s government and other rebels. |