The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced on Sunday that more than 4,360 people, including fighters and civilians, were killed in the Syrian civil war in 2023, marking the thirteenth year since the fighting began.
Increase in Death Toll in the Syrian Civil War
The death toll saw an increase in 2023 compared to 2022, where 3,825 people were killed that year.
Civilian and Fighter Victims
The death toll this year included 1,889 civilians, among them 241 women and 307 children, according to the observatory based in the UK, which has a network of sources inside Syria.
Government Forces and Other Fighters
The Syrian government forces were responsible for the deaths of nearly 900 people this year, while other fighters, including Kurdish forces, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, extremist groups, ISIS terrorists, and foreign fighters, accounted for the rest.
Evolution of the Conflict in Syria
The conflicts in Syria have seen a significant escalation over the years. Foreign armies, militias, and extremists have participated, resulting in more than 500,000 deaths, millions displaced, and the destruction of the country’s infrastructure and industry.
Syrian Regime’s Recovery of Lost Territory
With Iranian and Russian support, Damascus has regained much of the territory it lost earlier in the conflict, although large parts of northern Syria remain outside government control.
Decline in Annual Death Toll
The annual death toll has declined in recent years, dropping to lower levels.
Ongoing Violence
The observatory reported that several people, including a fighter and a child, were killed on Saturday in a government bombing of “residential areas and a market” in the city of Idlib.
Ceasefire in Idlib
A ceasefire in Idlib was announced with the mediation of Russia and Turkey following the Syrian government’s attack in March 2020, but it has been repeatedly violated.
Israeli Strikes in Syria
The observatory also reported that 25 Iran-aligned fighters were killed in airstrikes in eastern Syria “likely” carried out by Israel, raising the previous death toll from 23.
Escalation of Israeli Strikes in Syria
Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Syrian territory since the war began, rarely commenting on individual attacks, but has repeatedly stated that it will not allow Iran to expand its presence in the country.
In conclusion, violence in Syria continues despite a decline in the annual death toll, and there is an urgent need to find a political solution to the ongoing conflict in the country.
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