At least 14 killed after air strike hits MSF-supported hospital in Syria

Two other doctors were also among those killed, the Britain-based war monitor said. In a statement on its Facebook page, the Civil Defence rescue service in rebel-held areas of Aleppo put the death toll at 30.

The hospital was supported by the international medical organisation Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), who said on its Twitter account it was destroyed after being hit by a direct air strike.

At least 14 patients and staff, including at least three doctors, were killed, MSF said.

The Observatory said in the past six days in Aleppo 84 civilians had been killed in government air strikes and 49 civilians were killed in rebel shelling of government-held areas.

Fighting in Aleppo began to escalate on April 22 and a Feb. 27 cessation of hostilities agreement, which initially reduced violence in many areas of Syria, was described by the United Nations as being "barely alive" on Thursday.