Russia hits hospitals as Iran asks China to reinforce pro-Assad side

Russian warplanes carried out two separate airstrikes and hit two hospitals in Azaz, Aleppo, Anadolu Agency reported. "At least 40 civilians were killed and dozens were injured Friday. The airstrikes caused heavy damage to the hospitals' buildings. One of the medical facilities is believed to be a children's hospital," the agency said. Russian airstrikes killed at least 250 civilians in a week, agencies reported. Amid the attacks on Syria by both the Syrian regime and Russia, Iran, which reportedly has hundreds of troops in Syria, urged China to get involved in the Syrian war. "China should play a more active role in fighting DAESH, a senior figure in a body that advises Iran's Supreme Leader said on Thursday," Fars News Agency reported.

At least 40 civilians were killed and dozens were injured Friday after airstrikes carried out by Russian warplanes in Aleppo, hit two hospitals and a mosque, agencies said. The sources added that the airstrikes, which targeted Azaz district, caused heavy damage to the hospitals' buildings. One of the medical facilities is believed to be a children's hospital. Russian airstrikes have killed more than 250 civilians this week alone across Syria. Seven wounded Syrians were taken to hospitals in Kilis, a Turkish city, seven kilometer away from the targeted hospitals. According to a report released earlier this month by Amnesty International, Russian airstrikes in Syria have killed "hundreds" of Syrian civilians over the last three months. The report also suggests that the Russian authorities were attempting to cover up the mounting civilian death toll. The report provides evidence that shows that the Russian military has used unguided bombs in densely populated civilian areas, along with internationally banned "cluster" munitions. Amnesty International said that the airstrikes had caused massive destruction to residential areas, striking homes, mosques, markets and medical facilities, in violation of international humanitarian law. Russia began air operations in Syria on Sept. 30 with the aim of supporting the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. While the Kremlin says the airstrikes target DAESH, some members of the western NATO alliance believe Russia is targeting groups opposed to Assad, including some that enjoy U.S. and Turkish support. Russia's air force has made 5,240 sorties since it started the strikes in Syria on Sept. 30, including 189 sorties on Thursday alone, Russia's defense ministry told reporters on Friday. Russian long-range strategic bombers have carried out 145 sorties since Sept. 30, Sergei Rudskoi, a department chief at the General Staff of the armed forces, told a news briefing in Moscow.

Amid the escalated tensions, Iran urged China to involve directly in the Syrian war. China should play a more active role in fighting DAESH, a senior figure in a body that advises Iran's Supreme Leader said on Thursday, according to the country's Fars news agency. Iran reportedly has hundreds of troops in Syria who fight against Western-backed moderate rebels along with Lebanon-based Hezbollah. "China can significantly help the regional peace and stability by becoming more active in the fight against the DAESH," said Mohsen Rezaei, who has the title of Secretary of the Expediency Council, after meeting members of a Chinese delegation in Tehran. China has been criticized by several rights groups and countries including the U.S. and Turkey for oppressing Muslim Turkic-speaking Uighurs in Xinjiang under the pretext of terror. The rapprochement between Iran and China pave the way for Iran to pursue its expansionist and sectarian policies. Rezaei said if China plays a more significant role in the fight against DAESH, "Iran can fight against extremism in Central Asia through cultural activities and interaction with Chinese Muslim community."

While struggles for peace continue, Qatari Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiyah said on Friday he opposed the creation of lists of opposition before peace talks on Syria. "We are against the absolute classification of groups. What is more important is to understand the logic behind why these groups took up arms, their aims and motives," he told reporters at a news conference with his Russian counterpart in Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it was crucial to ensure that the widest circle of opposition members take part in future talks to end Syria's civil war. Syria's regime said Thursday it was ready to take part in new talks in Geneva aimed at ending the war, but appeared to make its participation conditional on which opposition groups attend.

Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Damascus "is ready to participate in the Syrian-Syrian dialogue in Geneva without any foreign interference." Muallem said Syria was waiting to receive a list of "terrorist organizations" that would not be allowed to participate in the talks.