996 Civilians Killed in November 2017

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) recently published a report detailing the  death tolls in Syria throughout November 2017, with a total of 10,034 deaths in 2017 thus far. The total deaths included 996 civilian victims in November, the majority of which were at the hands of Syrian Regime and Russian Forces.

Syrian Regime Forces were the largest perpetrator of civilian deaths this month, with a total of 503 civilians, including 74 children and 51 women throughout the month of November. The second largest portion of civilian casualties were at the hands of Russian Forces, with a total of 279 civilians, including 44 women and 95 children. 

The Syrian-Russian Alliance was responsible for 79% of the total death tolls in this month. According to the SNHR, the Syrian-Russian alliance initiated an offensive against Eastern Ghouta despite the de-escalation agreement reached in that area in July 2017.  The killings documented by the SNHR show the Syrian-Russian Alliance has committed international human rights violations repeatedly over the past month. 
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The de-escalation agreement of May 2017 is still in effect in the four established zones of the Idlib governate, nothern Homs, Eastern Ghouta and parts of Daraa and al Quneitra. In May 2017, Russia, USA and Jordan also announced a ceasefire agreement for southwestern Syria including the Daraa, Quneitra and Suwayda governates. 

There was also an agreement signed for the northern suburbs of Homs and southern suburbs of Hama de-escalation agreement which was signed in Cairo on Monday, July 31, 2017 following a round of talks between armed opposition factions in the area and the Syrian regime represented by the Russian government a sponsoring party, as the agreement was to commence at Thursday, August 3, 2017.

The de-escalation agreements throughout Syria do continue to show a deescalation in killings within the agreed upon areas. Markets are beginning to open again, patients were able to go to hospitals and some children were able to return school. However, the Syrian Regime continues to breech the agreements, and are continuing deaths by torture within Syria. In addition, Russia has breached de-escalation agreements the last three months, after previous months of low death tolls. 

The death tolls perpetrated by ISIS and other extremest groups were also noteworthy this month, with 114 civilians killed at their hands. The deaths included 16 children and 10 women. 

Despite numerous sources claiming the conflict in Syria to be over, the civilian deaths and fighting in Syria continue to destroy the country and make it unsafe for Syrians to return in certain areas. It is the responsibility of the Security Council to take additional steps to stop indiscriminate bombings and killings in Syria. The SNHR calls for the Security Council to, "apply pressure on the states that support the Syrian regime forces such as Russia, Iran and Lebanon in order to stop the weaponry and expertise supply for regime forces."

The SNHR also calls for the Russian guarantor to stop the Syrian regime from dooming all de-escalation agreements and start making progress in the detainees" regarding the 76,000 people who have been forcibly disappeared at the hands of the Syrian Regime since March 2011.   

Death Tolls: 
 -Government forces: 503
- Russian forces: 279
- ISIS: 114
- Armed opposition factions: 5
- International Coalition forces: 6
- Other Parties: 74
- Kurdish Forces: 15



2017-12-04