Worrying escalation | 230 persons killed in nearly 300 incidents of security disorder in Daraa province since early 2023
SOHR holds the Syrian regime and security service responsible for the escalating security chaos in Daraa province
Since regime forces and their proxies, backed by the Russians, took control of Daraa province in 2018, incidents of security disorder have been on the rise, amid security services’ failure to control the security situation. Meanwhile, regime authorities seem satisfied with the frequent Russian-sponsored reconciliations with suspects and opponents, as well as their oppression against civilians and ongoing threats of besieging cities, towns and villages and launching military operations.
In this context, SOHR has documented 295 incidents of security disorder since early 2023, where these attacks left 230 persons dead; they are as follows:
- 72 civilians, including three children and six women.
- 22 men accused of “involving in drug business.”
- 103 regime soldiers, members and collaborators with regime security services, including a woman.
- 16 former fighters who did not join any military formation, after striking reconciliation deals.
- Seven ISIS members.
- Six ex-combatants with settled-status working for regime services and backed militias.
- Two people working for the Lebanese Hezbollah, including a commander.
- One “collaborator” with Iranian-backed militias.
- An ex-fighter in the former “Jabhat Al-Nusra.”
A monthly breakdown of incidents of security disorder in regime-controlled areas in 2023 and the fatalities which they left is as follows:
January: 48 attacks left 35 people dead; they are as follows:
- Eight civilians, including two women.
- 18 regime military personnel and “collaborators” with security services.
- Two former fighters who did not join any military formation, after having struck reconciliation deals.
- Four ISIS members.
- Two ex-fighters with settled-status working for regime services and backed militias.
- One members working for the Lebanese Hezbollah.
February: 24 attacks left 18 people dead; they are as follows:
- Eight civilians, including a woman.
- Eight regime military personnel and “collaborators” with security services.
- One former fighter who did not join any military formation, after having struck a reconciliation deal.
- One members working for the Lebanese Hezbollah.
March: 42 attacks left 35 people dead; they are as follows:
- 11 civilians, including a child and a man accused of “involving in drug business.”
- 20 regime military personnel and “collaborators” with security services.
- One former fighter who did not join any military formation, after having struck a reconciliation deal.
- An ISIS member.
- One “collaborator” with Iranian-backed militias.
- An ex-fighter in the former Jabhat Al-Nusra.
April: 61 attacks left 47 people dead; they are as follows:
- 24 civilians, including a child and a 11 persons accused of “involving in drug business.”
- 16 members of regime forces and security services and “collaborators” with security services.
- Five former fighter who did not join any military formation, after having struck reconciliation deals.
- An ISIS member.
- An ex-fighter with settled-status working for regime security services.
May: 47 attacks left 32 people dead; they are as follows:
- 11 civilians.
- Four persons accused of “involving in drug business.”
- Ten regime soldiers, members and collaborators with regime security services.
- Three former fighter who did not join any military formation, after having struck reconciliation deals.
- Two members of opposition local factions.
- Two unidentified persons.
June: 39 attacks left 34 people dead; they are as follows:
- 11 civilians, including a child and three women.
- Three persons accused of “involving in drug business.”
- 17 members of regime forces and security services and “collaborators” with security services.
- One ISIS member.
- Two former fighter who did not join any military formation, after having struck reconciliation deals.
July (between July 1 and July 15): 34 attacks left 29 people dead; they are as follows:
- Ten civilians.
- Two drug dealers.
- 14 members of regime forces and security services and “collaborators” with security services.
- Three former fighter who did not join any military formation, after having struck reconciliation deals.
In the first six months of 2022, SOHR documented nearly 270 attacks, where the higher number of attacks documented in the first six months of 2023 indicates to worrying escalation of security chaos in Daraa province.
We, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), hold the Syrian regime and affiliated security services responsible for the escalating security chaos in Daraa, and renew our appeal to the international community to intensify its efforts to topple the regime which fully responsible for the disastrous situation in areas under its control, especially with its failure to administrate Syria’s affairs and handle crises.