The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) has documented extensive human rights violations in Syria during December 2024, reporting a total of 503 civilian deaths, including 96 children and 49 women. The report also sheds light on violations throughout the year, highlighting the impact of conflict, torture, and mass killings on the civilian population during the year prior to the toppling of the Assad Regime on December 8.
December Toll
The SNHR report detailed that in December, 223 civilians, including 65 children and 28 women, were killed by the forces of the ousted Assad regime. Russian forces were responsible for the deaths of 13 civilians, including 2 children and 1 woman, while the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were implicated in 108 deaths, including 7 children and 4 women. Other armed groups accounted for 151 civilian deaths, including 20 children and 13 women.
The city of Daraa experienced significant violence, with 122 documented fatalities, including women and children, due to clashes, artillery shelling, and security incidents. The escalation of military operations leading to the fall of the Assad regime exacerbated the toll, alongside the discovery of two mass graves containing dozens of bodies buried more than a decade ago.
2024 A Grim Year
In 2024, the SNHR documented 1,264 civilian deaths, including 242 children and 118 women, alongside 86 victims of torture. Of these, the Assad regime forces killed 356 civilians, including 92 children and 40 women before their removal by revolutionary forces at year’s end. Russian forces killed 29 civilians, including 9 children. The PKK-aligned SDF accounted for 166 deaths, including 23 children. With revolutionary forces linked to smaller numbers of fatalities. The report also recorded 33 massacres throughout the year, with the ousted Assad regime forces implicated in 14 of these incidents.
Torture & Enforced Disappearances
Torture remained a significant issue in Syria over the last year of Assad’s rule, with 86 deaths reported in 2024 due to torture, including 52 at the hands of Assad forces and 10 by the SDF. The SNHR emphasized the urgent need to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure justice for victims and their families.
Regional Disparities in Violence
Aleppo Governorate accounted for 27% of total civilian deaths, followed by Daraa at 18%, Idlib at 13%, and Deir Ezzor at 11%. The distribution reflects the geographical variance in conflict intensity and the presence of active combatants.
Mass Graves & Ongoing Violations
The discovery of mass graves in Daraa underscored the legacy of violence under the Assad regime. On December 16, a grave containing 31 bodies was found near Izra, and another grave with six decomposed bodies was uncovered on December 26.
Security Incidents & Abductions
The report also noted an increase in crimes and kidnappings, with civilians targeted in armed disputes and ransom demands. Children were among those killed in violent disputes, reflecting the pervasive insecurity in the country following the tumultuous end of the Assad regime.
The Need for Justice & Accountability
Lawyer Asem Al-Zoubi, head of the Violations Documentation Office, stressed that actual casualty figures may exceed documented numbers due to families’ reluctance to report violations. “Verification of detainee data remains ongoing,” Al-Zoubi said, urging the international community to support accountability measures during this period of transition.
As Syria moves forward under new leadership, the SNHR’s findings lay bare the importance of addressing violations and ensuring justice for victims, while supporting the country’s path to recovery, justice, and stability.
