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Isis advance in Syria: Hospital evacuated and 100,000 feared displaced as militants move towards Azaz | Isis advance in Syria: Hospital evacuated and 100,000 feared displaced as militants move towards Azaz |
(35 minutes later) | |
A hospital has been evacuated as Isis advances on a city where more than 100,000 civilians are trapped near the Turkish border in Syria. | A hospital has been evacuated as Isis advances on a city where more than 100,000 civilians are trapped near the Turkish border in Syria. |
Militants have seized several towns and villages from rebels and were battling to reach Azaz on Friday. | Militants have seized several towns and villages from rebels and were battling to reach Azaz on Friday. |
Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said had no choice but to evacuate medics and patients from Al Salamah hospital as the Islamists neared. | Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said had no choice but to evacuate medics and patients from Al Salamah hospital as the Islamists neared. |
It said a basic team would remain to help the ill and wounded but raised concern over more than 100,000 displaced people living in the rebel enclave. | It said a basic team would remain to help the ill and wounded but raised concern over more than 100,000 displaced people living in the rebel enclave. |
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. |
In the past three days, an estimated 45,000 civilians have fled towards Azaz but are now trapped in the almost encircled city as the Turkish border remains closed. | In the past three days, an estimated 45,000 civilians have fled towards Azaz but are now trapped in the almost encircled city as the Turkish border remains closed. |
The Isis offensive has split rebel-held territory in northern Aleppo Governorate into two, cutting a key road linking Azaz to the town of Marea. | The Isis offensive has split rebel-held territory in northern Aleppo Governorate into two, cutting a key road linking Azaz to the town of Marea. |
Syrian rebel factions in the area, which includes a strategic border crossing, have also come under fire from pro-government forces and the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, who hold territory to the west of Azaz. | Syrian rebel factions in the area, which includes a strategic border crossing, have also come under fire from pro-government forces and the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, who hold territory to the west of Azaz. |
The city and the Bab al-Salama crossing have been a lifeline for the opposition since the town fell into rebel hands in 2012 but have being threatened by Russian and government air strikes and enemy advances. | The city and the Bab al-Salama crossing have been a lifeline for the opposition since the town fell into rebel hands in 2012 but have being threatened by Russian and government air strikes and enemy advances. |
MSF and other aid organisations warned earlier this month that the humanitarian situation for people living in the rebel-held enclave was critical. | MSF and other aid organisations warned earlier this month that the humanitarian situation for people living in the rebel-held enclave was critical. |
Human Rights Watch estimates that at up to 165,000 people are currently trapped in overcrowded settlements and fields surrounding Azaz and near a crossing at the nearby Turkish border. | Human Rights Watch estimates that at up to 165,000 people are currently trapped in overcrowded settlements and fields surrounding Azaz and near a crossing at the nearby Turkish border. |
Gerry Simpson, a senior researcher, said they were being hemmed by Turkey’s closed border - where guards have allegedly shot at and attacked refugees trying to flee - and a “wall of silence” by the rest of the world. | Gerry Simpson, a senior researcher, said they were being hemmed by Turkey’s closed border - where guards have allegedly shot at and attacked refugees trying to flee - and a “wall of silence” by the rest of the world. |
“While the world speaks about fighting Isis, their silence is deafening when it comes to the basic rights of those fleeing Isis,” he added. | “While the world speaks about fighting Isis, their silence is deafening when it comes to the basic rights of those fleeing Isis,” he added. |
"The fact Turkey is generously hosting more than 2.5 million Syrians does not give it a right to shut its border to other endangered Syrians.” | |
Around 30,000 civilians fled a previous Isis advance east of Azaz in April and one of the camps in the region has since been hit by an air strike that killed at least 20 people. | Around 30,000 civilians fled a previous Isis advance east of Azaz in April and one of the camps in the region has since been hit by an air strike that killed at least 20 people. |
Azaz, which is controlled by the FSA and Jabhat al-Nusra, was briefly held by Isis in 2013 and militants made another push for the city last summer. | Azaz, which is controlled by the FSA and Jabhat al-Nusra, was briefly held by Isis in 2013 and militants made another push for the city last summer. |
The latest advance came days after the Syrian Democratic Forces announced an assault against the group’s territories in northern Raqqa province. | The 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. |