A medical group working in Syria reported one of its most secure hospitals was taken out of service Sunday by airstrikes in the war-torn Middle Eastern country.
The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organization said the Hasan Al-Araj Cave Hospital, built inside a mountain about 50 feet underground, suffered major damage in an airstrike.
According to a press release, two waves of airstrikes hit the hospital in the afternoon and evening hours. The bombings caused massive damage to the emergency room and damage to the rest of the facility as well, the statement read.
“It is suspected that the hospital was targeted by ‘bunker buster’ missiles as the hospital was well fortified in a cave and impervious to previous attacks,” said Dr. Abdallah Darwish, director of the hospital, “the bomb caused complete destruction of the emergency department and major destruction throughout the hospital.”
The hospital was located outside Hama in the eastern part of Syria. No one was killed and only minor injuries were reported. Staff members and equipment have been evacuated from the site.
According to the press release, doctors at the hospital performed about 150 surgeries per month and has between 40 and 50 intensive care cases each month.
It’s unknown who bombed the hospital. Currently, American-led coalition of nations, Russian and Syrian forces are among the groups performing air strikes in the country.
Photos from the bombing show rubble scattered throughout the hallways of the building as if the ceiling was falling into pieces. Some doorways in the building were completely filled with the remains of walls and ceilings.
The situation in Syria has seemingly continued to deteriorate in recent weeks, even past the catastrophic level it had been set at. A ceasefire to break the siege in Aleppo fell apart after a week and images continue to pour out of the country showing devastation.
“The situation in Syria is becoming more and more dire as every day passes, these vicious and atrocious campaigns are literally choking the life out of civilians, they are deplorable and unacceptable,” said Dr. Khaula Sawah, CEO of the union in the United States. “The indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians and the direct targeting of medical staff and healthcare facilities is a war crime.”
