Over 11,000 killed since fall of former Syrian regime: SOHR
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Over 11,000 killed in Syria in 11 months amid human rights violations, says Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
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A couple rides a motorcycle past destroyed buildings in Ein Tarma, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, a suburb of Damascus that was heavily bombed by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad during the war in Syria (AP)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 11,226 people have been killed since the fall of the former Syrian regime over the past eleven months, noting that the country continues to experience widespread chaos and extensive violations against civilians.
The Observatory stated in its report that the period from December 8, 2024, to November 8, 2025, saw a continued and widespread pattern of serious human rights violations across various Syrian regions, including unlawful killings, field executions, abductions, and torture, alongside the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, armed attacks, and repeated bombings.
It also highlighted that Syria has been subjected to bombings by Turkish and Israeli forces, alongside attacks carried out by armed groups and extremist organizations, which have worsened the suffering of civilians, particularly women and children, and revived patterns of systematic violence as well as crimes driven by revenge, sectarian, and regional motives.
According to the report, among the victims were 8,654 civilians, including 487 children and 657 women, while 3,059 cases of field executions were documented, and the Observatory noted that these violations were carried out by multiple local and regional actors amid an almost complete absence of accountability and the weakness of judicial institutions.
The report emphasized that the documented figures reflect the ongoing cycle of violence and impunity, stressing the urgent need for effective accountability mechanisms and civilian protection, as well as immediate steps toward building institutions capable of upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all Syrians.
Repeat massacres and killings threaten safety in Syria
Between 6 and 9 March 2025, Latakia and Tartous governorates witnessed deadly operations targeting Alawite communities. SOHR documented over 1,400 deaths during retaliatory campaigns following insurgent attacks, with evidence of looting, arson, and sectarian violence. These events highlight the continued targeting of specific communities along sectarian lines.
On 22 June 2025, a suicide bombing and shooting attack at Mar Elias Church in Damascus killed at least 22 people and injured dozens more during a religious service. This incident underscored the vulnerability of minority groups, with civilians again bearing the brunt of violence amid ongoing armed conflict.
Southern Syria also experienced deadly clashes, particularly in Sweida. From 13 to 15 July 2025, government forces and allied fighters engaged in operations against Druze communities, resulting in at least 1,311 deaths, including many civilians.
Earlier, between 29 April and 1 May 2025, ambushes and field executions in the same region killed dozens of Druze civilians and combatants; some victims were subjected to summary executions.
Reports from May 2025 further revealed at least 157 civilians killed nationwide, including 20 children and 11 women, with cases of torture and extrajudicial killings. These events reflect the entrenched cycle of violence, sectarian targeting, and impunity in Syria, emphasizing the urgent need for effective civilian protection, accountability mechanisms, and stronger judicial institutions.
