The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) says it documented 428 civilian deaths and 246 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention across Syria during the first half of 2026, according to two semiannual reports released this week. The organization said the figures reflect only cases it was able to verify through its documentation methodology and may not represent the full scale of violations.
The reports cover developments through the end of June and analyze trends in unlawful killings, violence related civilian deaths, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and releases from detention centers during the country’s ongoing transitional period.
Civilian Deaths Decline Through First Half
SNHR documented the deaths of 428 civilians between January and June, including 80 children, 33 women, eight medical personnel and two media workers. The organization also recorded one death resulting from torture.
During the second quarter alone, the network documented 160 civilian deaths, including 37 children, six women and one media worker. Monthly figures showed a gradual decline after the beginning of the year, with 111 deaths recorded in January, 96 in February, 61 in March, 75 in April, 44 in May and 41 in June.
According to the report, the largest category of documented deaths involved gunfire from unidentified sources, which accounted for 202 civilian deaths during the first half of the year. Another 59 civilians died from landmines of unidentified origin, while 50 were killed in explosions where investigators could not determine responsibility.
SNHR also documented 57 civilian deaths attributed to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), 12 to Syrian government forces, nine within the category it describes as “remnants of the Assad regime,” three attributed to ISIS and one attributed to Israeli forces.
Aleppo recorded the highest number of civilian deaths with 81, followed by Hama with 67, Homs with 63, Idlib with 53 and Raqqa with 51. The report also documented 24 attacks on vital civilian facilities during the first half of the year, including educational institutions, medical facilities and a place of worship. Seven attacks recorded during the second quarter were attributed to Israeli forces and were concentrated in Daraa and Quneitra.
Arbitrary Detentions Continue
In a separate report, SNHR documented 246 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention during the first six months of 2026, including 14 children and three women. The organization also recorded 1,069 releases from detention facilities during the same period.
The report said 141 documented detentions were attributed to Syrian government forces, 61 to Israeli forces and 44 to the SDF. Quneitra recorded the highest number of documented cases with 53, followed by Deir Ezzor with 43.
During the second quarter, SNHR documented 36 arbitrary detention cases, including three children, alongside 557 releases. The organization said the lower number of documented arrests compared with previous periods followed the political changes after the fall of Bashar Assad’s government in December 2024 and the January 2026 agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF. However, it said unlawful deprivation of liberty continues.
The report also distinguished 96 detentions carried out by Syrian authorities against individuals suspected of Assad-era crimes. SNHR said those cases were not included in its arbitrary detention statistics because they fall under a different legal framework.
Calls for Accountability
SNHR said arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and unlawful killings violate protections guaranteed under international human rights law, including the rights to life, liberty and personal security.
The organization called on Syrian authorities to ensure arrests comply with legal standards, investigate allegations of torture, disclose the fate of forcibly disappeared people and strengthen judicial oversight of detention facilities.
The reports also urged all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, while calling for expanded mine clearance efforts, independent investigations into civilian deaths and continued international support for accountability and institutional reform in Syria.
