Update: Bombing kills at least 16 at Afrin hospital
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Avrin City Hospital came under bombardment by Turkish forces on Friday night, killing at least 15 people and wounding tens more. The Turkish Armed Forces denied they were responsible for the attack.
Overnight, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based conflict monitor, put the death toll at 16.
"Reports of the bombardment of Avrin Hospital by Turkish Armed Forces are not true," tweeted TSK early Saturday morning.
"Operation Olive Branch has been carried out in a way that civilians/innocent people in the environment [in Afrin] are never harmed," added the military.
Aldar Khalil, co-president of the executive body of the Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) that governs Rojava, put the initial death toll at 15.
"Avrin Hospital was the only medical facility in service. It has been hit by 3 missiles. 15 bodies have been identified, and many more are scattered all over the place. We are waiting for more information,” Khali tweeted.
According to Ronahi TV, which is close to the YPG, the bombing heavily damaged the building and injured tens more.
Thousands of people tried to flee out of Afrin and into areas north of Aleppo city early on Friday.
Turkey began its Operation Olive Branch on January 20 to clear its border from "terrorists." Turkey denies targeting civilians.
According to the Observatory, more than 250 civilians including children had been killed as of Friday afternoon.
Last updated at 8:16 a.m. on March 17, 2018 with updated SOHR casualty figures and Turkish denial.