Aleppo bombings (April–July 2016)

Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)

Aleppo bombings (April–July 2016)

Part of the Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)

Aleppo

Location of Aleppo within Syria

Location| Aleppo, Syria
Coordinates| 36°13′N 37°10′E
Date| 22 April – 18 July 2016 (2 months, 3 weeks and 5 days)
Target| Military and civilians

Attack type

| Airstrikes and bombardments
Weapons| Aerial bombs, rockets, artillery and chemical weapons
Deaths|

* 525 killed by government airstrikes and shelling (SOHR claim)[1]
* 416 killed by rebel bombardment[1][2]

Perpetrators|

* Syrian Air Force
* Russian Air Force
* Fatah Halab
* Al Nusra Front

* v
* t
* e

Syrian civil war

Timeline

* Background and causes
* Casualties
* Cities
* Terrorism
* Massacres

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* t
* e

Civil uprising in Syria (March–August 2011)

* Daraa
* Baniyas
* Homs (May–August 2011)
* Talkalakh
* Rastan and Talbiseh
* 1st Jisr ash-Shughur
* 1st Jabal al-Zawiya
* Hama
* Latakia

* v
* t
* e

Start of insurgency (Sept. 2011 – April 2012)

* Homs (2011–14)
* 1st Homs offensive
* 1st Idlib Gov.
* Syrian–Turkish border
* Jabal al-Zawiya
* 1st Idlib City
* Saraqib
* 1st Rastan
* Hama Gov.
* Shayrat & Tiyas ambush
* Daraa Gov.
* 1st Rif Dimashq
* 1st Zabadani
* Douma
* Deir ez-Zor (2011–2014)
* Hatla
* Aleppo Gov.
* Azaz
* 2nd Rastan
* 1st al-Qusayr
* 2nd Idlib Gov.
* Taftanaz

* v
* t
* e

UN ceasefire; Rebel advances (May 2012 – Dec. 2013)

* 3rd Rastan
* Houla
* 1st Northern Homs
* Al-Haffah
* Al-Qubeir
* Al-Tremseh
* 3rd Idlib Gov.
* 1st Damascus
* Bombing
* 1st Aleppo city
* Anadan
* Menagh Air Base
* Base 46
* Khan al-Assal
* 1st Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Aleppo offensive
* Syrian Kurdistan and Kurdish–Islamist conflict
* Hasaka campaign
* Ras al-Ayn
* al-Yaarubiyah
* Tell Hamis and Tell Brak
* Tell Abyad
* Nubl & Al-Zahraa
* 2nd Rif Dimashq (1st Darayya)
* Abu al-Duhur Airbase
* Quneitra Gov.
* 3rd Rif Dimashq
* 1st Yarmouk camp
* 2nd Darayya
* Darayya & Muadamiyat
* Aqrab
* 1st Hama offensive
* Halfaya
* 1st Safira
* Shadadeh
* 2nd Damascus
* 1st Raqqa campaign (1st Raqqa)
* 1st Daraa offensive
* 4th Rif Dimashq
* Jdaidet al-Fadl
* Tadamon
* Ghouta
* 2nd al-Qusayr
* 3rd al-Qusayr
* Eastern Ghouta
* 2nd Hama offensive
* Bayda and Baniyas
* 1st Latakia offensive
* Ma'loula
* Sadad
* 5th Rif Dimashq
* 1st Qalamoun
* Adra

* v
* t
* e

Rise of ISIS in 2014

* Inter-rebel conflict
* Northern Aleppo
* Markada
* 1st Deir ez-Zor offensive
* al-Otaiba ambush
* Maan
* Hosn
* Morek
* 2nd Daraa offensive
* 2nd Latakia offensive
* 4th Idlib Gov.
* Al-Malihah
* 2nd Wadi Deif
* 2nd Qalamoun
* Arsal
* Deir ez-Zor (2014–2017)
* 1st Shaer gas field
* 1st Eastern Syria
* Tabqa Airbase
* 3rd Hama offensive
* 6th Rif Dimashq
* 1st Quneitra
* 1st Kobanî

* v
* t
* e

U.S.-led intervention, Rebel and ISIL advances (Sept. 2014 – Sept. 2015)

* U.S.-led intervention
* Homs school bombing
* 3rd Daraa offensive
* 2nd Safira
* 2014 Idlib city raid
* Nusra–FSA conflict
* 2nd Shaer gas field
* 1st Al-Shaykh Maskin
* 2nd Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 3rd Aleppo offensive
* An-26 crash
* 4th Daraa offensive
* Southern Syria
* Eastern al-Hasakah offensive
* 1st Sarrin
* Hama/Homs offensive
* Bosra
* 5th Idlib Gov
* 2nd Idlib city
* Al-Fu'ah-Kafriya
* Nasib
* 2nd Yarmouk camp
* 1st Northwestern Syria
* 3rd Qalamoun
* 1st Palmyra
* Western al-Hasakah offensive
* 1st Al-Hasakah city
* Tell Abyad
* Daraa/As-Suwayda
* 2nd Quneitra
* 2nd Sarrin
* 5th Daraa
* 2nd Al-Hasakah city
* 2nd Kobanî
* 4th Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Zabadani
* 2nd Palmyra
* Al-Ghab
* 1st al-Qaryatayn
* Douma market
* 7th Rif Dimashq
* Kuweires offensive

* v
* t
* e

Russian intervention (Sept. 2015 – March 2016)

* Russian intervention
* 3rd Quneitra
* 2nd Northwestern Syria
* 3rd Latakia offensive
* Su-24 shootdown
* 5th Aleppo offensive
* al-Hawl
* 2nd Homs offensive
* 6th Aleppo offensive
* 4th Hama offensive
* Tell Tamer
* Tishrin Dam
* 2nd Al-Shaykh Maskin
* al-Qamishli bombings
* Orontes River
* 3rd Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 1st Sayyidah Zaynab
* 7th Aleppo offensive
* 1st Ithriyah-Raqqa
* Al-Shaddadi
* Homs bombings
* 2nd Sayyidah Zaynab
* Khanasir
* 2nd Tel Abyad
* Al-Tanf
* 2nd Al-Qaryatayn
* 3rd Palmyra
* 2nd Maarat al-Nu'man

* v
* t
* e

Aleppo escalation and Euphrates Shield (March 2016 – February 2017)

* 8th Aleppo offensive
* 6th Daraa
* 9th–11th Aleppo offensives
* Al-Dumayr
* 1st East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict
* 1st Qamishli
* Aleppo bombings
* 8th Rif Dimashq
* 3rd Shaer gas field
* Northern Raqqa
* Jableh & Tartus
* Manbij
* Tokhar
* 2nd Ithriyah-Raqqa
* 9th Rif Dimashq
* 12th–14th Aleppo offensives
* 12th
* 13th
* 14th
* 4th Latakia offensive
* 1st Abu Kamal
* 3rd Qamishli
* Atmeh
* al-Rai
* 3rd Al-Hasakah City
* Operation Euphrates Shield
* Northern al-Bab
* Dabiq
* al-Bab
* 5th Hama offensive
* 1st Western al-Bab
* 1st Eastern Qalamoun
* September bombings
* 4th Quneitra
* Deir ez-Zor airstrike
* Aleppo aid convoy attack
* 15th Aleppo offensive
* Khan al-Shih
* 1st Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 2nd Western al-Bab
* 16th Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Raqqa campaign
* 17th Aleppo offensive
* 4th Palmyra
* Wadi Barada
* 1st Syrian Desert
* Azaz bombings
* 5th Palmyra
* 4th Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 18th Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 7th Daraa
* Qaboun
* 8th Daraa

* v
* t
* e

Collapse of the Islamic State in Syria (Feb. – Nov. 2017)

* Eastern Homs offensive
* al-Jina mosque
* 6th Hama offensive
* Tabqa
* Khan Shaykhun
* US Shayrat strike
* Aleppo bus bombing
* April 2017 Turkish airstrikes
* 2nd East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict
* 2nd Syrian Desert
* Maskanah
* East Hama
* 2nd Raqqa
* 9th Daraa
* Southern Raqqa
* Iranian Deir ez-Zor strike
* Ja'din
* Jobar
* 5th Quneitra
* Central Syria
* 3rd Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 4th Qalamoun
* Deir ez-Zor (2017–2019)
* 2nd Eastern Syria
* Deir ez-Zor city
* Euphrates Crossing
* Mayadin
* 2nd Abu Kamal
* 7th Hama offensive

* v
* t
* e

Rebels in retreat and Operation Olive Branch
(Nov. 2017 – Sep. 2018)

* 3rd Northwestern Syria
* Eastern Syria insurgency
* Atarib
* Harasta
* Beit Jinn
* 3rd Syrian Desert
* 5th Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 1st Southern Damascus
* Olive Branch
* Afrin
* SDF insurgency
* Khasham
* Feb 2018 Israel–Syria incident
* 10th Rif Dimashq (Douma)
* 4th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 2nd Southern Damascus
* U.S.-led missile strikes
* 2nd Northern Homs
* 2nd Eastern Qalamoun
* 3rd Southern Damascus
* Deir ez-Zor SAA-SDF clashes
* House of Cards
* 1st As-Suwayda
* 2nd Southern Syria
* 2nd As-Suwayda
* 3rd As-Suwayda
* 2nd Qamishli

* v
* t
* e

Idlib demilitarization
(Sep. 2018 – April 2019)

* Idlib demilitarization
* 5th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 1st Israeli missile strikes
* 2nd Iranian strike
* Northern border clashes
* Daraa insurgency
* Manbij bombing
* Baghuz Fawqani
* U.S. airstrike

* v
* t
* e

First Idlib offensive, Operation Peace Spring, & Second Idlib offensive (April 2019 – March 2020)

* 4th Northwestern
* Tell Rifaat
* Raqqa & Azaz
* Hass
* 2nd Israeli missile strikes
* Peace Spring (2nd Ras al-Ayn)
* Kayla Mueller
* Northern bombings
* 3rd Israeli missile strikes
* Qah
* 5th Northwestern
* Balyun
* Spring Shield
* 2nd U.S. missile strikes
* 10th Daraa

* v
* t
* e

Idlib ceasefire (March 2020 – Nov. 2024)

* 6th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* Ayn Issa
* Qamishli & Al-Hasakah
* 4th Israeli missile strikes
* 3rd Qamishli
* 11th Daraa
* 7th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 3rd Al-Hasakah city
* 1st Aleppo inter-rebel conflict
* Jabal al-Bishrī
* 2nd Aleppo inter-rebel conflict
* Claw-Sword
* Northwestern clashes
* 3rd U.S. missile strikes
* 2nd Northern clashes
* Deir ez-Zor clashes
* 3rd Northern clashes
* Homs drone strike
* Israel–Hezbollah conflict (Iranian consulate airstrike)
* February 2024 airstrikes
* Anti-Turkish riots
* Masyaf raid

* v
* t
* e

Opposition offensives and Assad overthrown (Nov. – Dec. 2024)

* Opposition offensives
* 2nd Aleppo city
* Hospital strike
* 2024 Syrian coup d'etat attempt
* 8th Hama offensive
* 19th Aleppo offensive
* 6th Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 3rd Homs offensive
* 6th Palmyra
* 2nd Manbij
* Al-Mustariha strike
* 3rd Southern Syria
* 3rd Damascus
* Fall of the Assad regime

* v
* t
* e

Second Transitional government and SNA–SDF conflict (Dec. 2024 – present)

* Israeli invasion of Syria
* 3rd Kobani
* Hezbollah–Syria clashes
* 20th Aleppo offensive
* Western clashes
* March 2025 Western Syria clashes
* Massacres of Syrian Alawites
* 2025 Jaramana clashes
* March 2025 Daraa clashes
* March 2025 Lebanon–Syria border clashes
* 2025 Syrian coup d'etat attempt
* Rif Dimashq clashes (April 2025–present)
* Massacres of Syrian Druze

* v
* t
* e

Syrian War spillover and international incidents

* Lebanon spillover
* Lebanese–Syrian border
* Sidon
* Iranian embassy bombing
* North Lebanon clashes

* * *

* Syrian–Turkish border incidents
* Turkish F4 shootdown
* Reyhanlı bombings
* Turkish occupation of northern Syria
* Kurdish riots

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* Jordanian–Syrian border incidents

* * *

* Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line
* February 2018 incident
* May 2018 incident

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* Iraqi–Syrian border incidents
* Akashat
* al-Shabah
* Western Nineveh
* Western Iraq

* * *

* Spillover in Iran
* 2017 Tehran attacks
* 2017 Deir ez-Zor missile strike
* 2024 Iranian airstrikes in Syria

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* Spillover in Turkey
* Russian Su-24 shootdown
* Andrei Karlov
* Balyun airstrikes
* Kafr Takharim airstrikes

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* Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

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* Spillover in Europe

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* e

Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war

Foreign intervention on behalf of Syrian Arab Republic

* Russian involvement
* 2015 intervention
* Iranian intervention
* 2017 missile strike
* 2012 Hezbollah involvement

Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian rebels

* Foreign rebel fighters
* Turkish involvement
* Turkey–Islamic State conflict
* Tomb of Suleyman Shah relocation
* Euphrates Shield
* 2017 airstrikes
* Idlib Governorate operation
* Afrin operation
* 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria
* Israel's role

U.S.-led intervention against ISIL

* US intervention
* Timeline
* List of attacks
* 2014 rescue operation
* May 2015 raid
* 2017 missile strikes
* Qatari involvement
* Jordanian intervention
* Operation Martyr Muath
* Lebanon's role
* Saudi involvement
* April 2018 missile strikes
* Dutch involvement
* German intervention
* French intervention
* Australian intervention
* UK intervention

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* e

Battle of Aleppo

Combat operations

* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016

* * *

2012

* Anadan
* Menagh Air Base
* Base 46

2013

* Safira
* Khan al-Assal
* SAA offensive
* Canopus Star

2014

* Rainbow

2015

* Rebel offensive
* Kuweires offensive
* SAA offensive

2016

* Northern offensive
* Southern offensives
* Aleppo bombings
* Summer offensives
* 1st SAA
* Rebel
* 2nd SAA
* SAA offensive
* Rebel offensive
* Final offensive

The Aleppo bombings (April–July 2016) were intense bombardments on both rebel and government-held areas in the city of Aleppo, Syria starting in late April 2016. Some rebel shelling also hit a Kurdish-held part of the city. The bombings decreased in intensity after 55 days when a temporary truce was established.[3] However, the bombings continued through July.[1]

## The attacks

[edit]

### Al-Quds Hospital

[edit]

On 27 April 2016, four consecutive airstrikes in an opposition-held district of Aleppo hit and destroyed al-Quds hospital and nearby homes.[4] Witnesses said a missile from a low-flying fighter jet hit the hospital directly.[5] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 27 people were killed.[4] Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) helped to support the hospital and initially said 14 patients and medical staff were killed.[4] On 4 May 2016, MSF released a statement saying the death toll had risen to 55 after more bodies were found.[6] According to MSF, the pediatric unit of the hospital was almost completely destroyed and the emergency room and laboratory were both entirely destroyed.[6] MSF said the hospital would not be able to reopen for at least two weeks.[6]

NPR reported that Russia and the Syrian government were the only two groups with aircraft in the area.[5] According to a US State Department official, there were indications the Syrian government solely conducted the bombing of the hospital.[7] The Guardian reported that the attack was "part of a broader pattern of systematic targeting of hospitals by the government of Bashar al-Assad".[8] No one claimed responsibility for the airstrike.[5]

### Malla Khan mosque

[edit]

On 29 April, the Malla Khan mosque in a government-controlled neighborhood was hit by rockets, killing at least 15 people. The Syrian government reported that the Syrian rebels are behind the attack.[9]

### Al-Dabit hospital

[edit]

On 3 May, the Syrian rebels fired rockets at government territory and killed 19 people. The rockets hit a hospital and killed 3 and wounded 17, according to government sources.[10]

### Alleged chemical attacks

[edit]

On 2 August, Russia claimed that the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement bombed with chemical weapons the government held areas of Aleppo, inflicting losses in civilian population.[2]

## Reactions

[edit]

* United Nations \- The UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura condemned the attack on the al-Quds Hospital and believes that it was a deliberate war crime.[11] The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also condemned the "monstrous disregard for civilian lives by all parties to the conflict."[12]
* France \- The French government "utterly condemn the bombing targeted against Al Quds Hospital in Aleppo" and called for a meeting of the International Syria Support Group.[13]
* Qatar \- The Qatari envoy to the Arab League has called for a league meeting to discuss the "dangerous escalation seen in Aleppo were civilians are subjected to massacres at the hands of the forces of the Syrian regime, which led to the deaths and injuries of hundreds."[14]
* United States \- The US State Department was "outraged by yesterday’s airstrikes in Aleppo on the al-Quds hospital supported by both Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which killed dozens of people, including children, patients, and medical personnel."[15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c SOHR (18 July 2016). "More than 900 civilian casualties since the start of the bombing escalation over Aleppo city until". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
2. ^ a b "Moscow blames rebels for 'chemical attacks' as Aleppo battle rages". Middle East Eye. AFP. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
3. ^ SOHR (16 June 2016). "Temporary truce announced after 55 bloody days that killed and injured more than 3500 civilian". Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
4. ^ a b c "Aleppo's 'Last Paediatrician' Dies In Airstrike" Sky News. April 29, 2016. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016 on the Wayback Machine
5. ^ a b c "Syria Hospital Airstrike: Are The Rules Of War Breaking Down?" NPR. April 28, 2016.
6. ^ a b c "Al Quds hospital death toll rises to 55" Médecins Sans Frontières. May 4, 2016.
7. ^ "Air strikes on Aleppo hospital kill doctors and children". Reuters. 28 April 2016.
8. ^ "Airstrike on MSF-backed Aleppo hospital kills patients and doctors" The Guardian. April 29, 2016.
9. ^ "The Latest: MSF says Syria hospital bombing killed 50". AP. 29 April 2016. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
10. ^ "Rebels launch assault in Syria's Aleppo, diplomats try to revive truce". Reuters. 3 March 2016.
11. ^ "De Mistura: Aleppo hospital strike appears deliberate". Al Arabiya. 28 April 2016.
12. ^ "Rebels shell mosque in Aleppo as truce declared for other parts of Syria". AP/CBC. 29 April 2016.
13. ^ "Syria – Attack against Al Quds Hospital in Aleppo – Statement by the minister of foreign affairs and international development (April 27, 2016)". France Diplomatie. 27 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
14. ^ "Qatar Requests Emergency Arab League Meeting on Aleppo Developments". Qatar News Agency. 30 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-05-10. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
15. ^ "Attack on al-Quds Hospital in Aleppo, Syria". US Department of State. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2017.

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