Al-Mahaba Hospital suspends work after attack in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – On Friday, the administration of al-Mahaba Hospital in the city of Afrin stopped receiving non-emergency cases after its medical staff were attacked and insulted by a Turkish-backed armed opposition group.
Areas held by Turkish-backed armed opposition groups are witnessing security chaos, accompanied by successive explosions and kidnappings in light of the opposition groups’ inability to stabilize security there.
Armed men affiliated with the Ahrar al-Sharqiya group assaulted hospital staff following a verbal altercation after a child in critical condition was transferred to the hospital, a local source told North Press.
The source added that the attackers indiscriminately fired into the air in the vicinity of the hospital and in the emergency room after the ambulance staff asked them to exit according to the hospital administration’s instructions.
The source pointed out that the attackers refused to leave the hospital and summoned a security force, firing indiscriminately and assaulting medical staff.
Following the incident, the hospital administration suspended non-emergency cases and limited its work to receiving only emergency cases until further notice, according to the source.
Turkish forces and Turkish-backed armed opposition groups have controlled the city of Afrin since March 2018.