The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) documented the deaths of 174 civilians across Syria during April 2025, underscoring persistent violence and instability in the wake of the Assad regime’s fall last December. Among the dead were 23 children, 13 women, and five individuals who died under torture, according to the report released Friday.
While the Assad regime was ousted in December 2024, SNHR noted that many deaths remain linked to remnants of the regime’s legacy. “Despite the fall of the Assad regime, we continue to document the killing of civilians by Assad forces,” the report stated, referencing attacks by regime-aligned militias and fatalities caused by leftover explosives and injuries sustained from earlier bombardments.
Unidentified Killers Account for Most Civilian Deaths
Of the 174 deaths, 143 were attributed to unidentified actors. Homs governorate bore the highest toll, accounting for 27 percent of the fatalities, followed by Daraa at 18 percent. The report also noted killings by various other groups: seven by “transitional government forces,” eight by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), five by remaining Assad regime factions, and two by Hezbollah.
SNHR reported the discovery of 17 civilian bodies in suspected mass graves, such as abandoned wells and buildings. While these deaths occurred before the regime’s fall, they were documented in April. The report emphasized the importance of recording both the date of discovery and the estimated time of death, given the shifting political control.
Detentions and Enforced Disappearances Escalate
April also saw a surge in arbitrary detentions, with 89 cases documented, including nine children and four women. The report revealed that 36 of these were carried out by the transitional government, while 53 were attributed to the SDF.
Aleppo recorded the highest number of detentions, followed by Homs and Deir Ezzor. Detainees included social media critics, individuals suspected of supporting opposing factions, and Kurdish civilians accused of “collaboration.” Many arrests were made without warrants or clear legal frameworks, particularly during raids by government forces targeting former regime affiliates.
The SDF was singled out for its continued practice of enforced disappearances, including the forced recruitment of children and suppression of dissent. SNHR documented the abduction of minors for training and military service, with families denied contact and no information on the children’s whereabouts.
Calls for Accountability and International Oversight
The report urged the Syrian government to reform legal procedures, protect civilians and evidence, and work with international justice mechanisms. It called on the UN Security Council to refer documented war crimes to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to increase humanitarian support. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry of Syria (IICIS) were also urged to initiate comprehensive investigations.
While April’s report details worsening conditions and ongoing abuses, it also serves as a reminder of the long road ahead for accountability and justice in post-Assad Syria.
