Syria Records Nearly 17,800 Deaths in Less Than a Year and a Half Despite Political Changes
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights recorded the killing of 17,786 people across various regions of Syria in less than a year and a half, since the fall of the former Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, up to March 13, 2026. This toll reflects the ongoing spiral of violence and violations despite the political transformations the country has undergone.
According to the Observatory, the figures reveal the magnitude of the human losses Syria continues to endure as a result of the ongoing conflict, with violence affecting both civilians and combatants alike, amid multiple armed factions and persistent security tensions across several areas.
Victims at the End of 2024
The Observatory reported that the last weeks of 2024 saw the killing of 8,025 people, immediately following the fall of the regime. The Observatory attributed the surge in casualties during this period to a wide wave of armed clashes, acts of violence, retaliatory operations, in addition to sporadic killings in various parts of the country.
2025 Toll
During 2025, the Observatory documented the killing of 9,272 people across Syria, including thousands of civilians—men, women, and children—alongside fighters from multiple factions. It noted that the monthly death toll varied depending on the intensity of military operations, explosions, and other violent incidents, with civilians representing the largest proportion of the casualties.
Victims in 2026 Up to Mid-March
From the beginning of 2026 until March 13, the Observatory recorded the killing of 189 people in scattered areas of Syria, including both civilians and fighters, amid ongoing security tensions and intermittent clashes and violent incidents.
Calls to Protect Civilians
The Observatory emphasized that these figures reflect the continued state of security instability in the country, amid widespread arms and multiple active parties, along with the repercussions of many years of war, placing civilians at the heart of the danger.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights called for the urgent provision of effective protection for civilians in all regions of Syria and an end to their direct or indirect targeting. It also urged the launch of serious and transparent investigations into all parties responsible for acts of violence and their accountability under international law and human rights.
The Observatory further stressed the importance of quickly removing war remnants and unexploded ordnance scattered in residential areas to prevent further casualties, alongside implementing effective initiatives to halt armed escalation and create a stable security environment that allows civilians to resume normal life.
