Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria in 2011, the Syrian observatory on human rights (SOHR) has continued to be referenced as one of the most used civilian-led groups in recording human rights violations in Syria. SOHR still collects data concerning deaths, arbitrary arrests, and detentions, through a network of decentralized sources, such as activists, medics, and journalists based in conflict zones.
This technique of real-time field reports, media checks, and case-by-case confirmation has ensured that the organization has remained central in international human rights reporting.
The world after 2024 added new complexities. With the turnover of former strongholds of the previous regime and the rise of transitional authorities, access to credible data has become more and more limited. But the diligence of SOHR has enabled it to document daily incidents, which global media has mostly ignored to write. Its numbers are actively cited by the UN, humanitarian organizations, and scholars observing the trends of conflicts even though the circumstances of its network work are very problematic.
Extrajudicial Killings: Patterns In 2025
The topic of civilian killings in Syria continues to dominate the human rights groups checking the post-conflict situation. Even after the downfall of the Assad regime, the violence has not been eliminated yet and many civilians are still being murdered in complicated conditions.
The information gathered by SOHR and other observers during the year 2025 indicates the emergence of new trends of violence which need to be closely examined by the international community and even the transitional governments.
April’s Toll Reflects Continued Instability
SOHR recorded 174 civilian casualties in April of 2025 (23 children and 13 women). These deaths became the results of bombings by unknown forces, the explosion of landmines, attacks of regime and transitional forces, as well as the targeted shootings. Although this was a monthly record of how conflict had become endemic, March had recorded an even more threatening figure of over 1,500 civilians killed with a significant concentration being recorded along the coast.
Diverse Perpetrators, Persistent Threat
Even after the formal fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, pro-Assad forces are still being involved in acts of violence. The Syrian network of human rights (SNHR) reported that “killing of civilians by pro-Assad forces has persisted in many forms including by the remnants of war like landmines. This proves that changes in political possession are yet to be translated into safer conditions among the civilian population.
Civilian Vulnerability: Regional And Familial Impacts
The civilian population is not equally exposed to violence as determined by location and family situations. These risks have only been worsened by the fact that the displaced families are returning to conflict affected regions.
The continued insecurity is afflicting both the urban centers and rural districts rendering whole communities prone to new and old disasters.
Regional Disparities In Civilian Deaths
Regions such as Hama and Homs emerged as hotspots of civilian suffering in spring 2025. Together, these areas accounted for nearly half of April’s fatalities. Even Damascus and Latakia, governed under new authorities, have reported localized spikes in violence. In Suwayda governorate, July saw over 1,000 deaths, among them 26 children and 47 women. The toll included multiple aid and media workers, underlining the indiscriminate nature of attacks.
Lingering Dangers In Post-Conflict Zones
A major source of ongoing casualties remains unexploded ordnance and landmines. Families returning to rebuild in war-torn areas face fatal risks from booby traps left behind. Local monitors emphasize that “these hazards continue to claim lives even after military operations have ended,” and that international conventions prohibiting such practices remain disregarded.
The Scope Of Forced Disappearances And Arbitrary Detention
Arbitrary detention and forced disappearances continue to be systematic tools of repression in Syria. These practices have extended into the post-regime period, with transitional groups also implicated.
Local and international organizations remain critical in documenting individual cases and seeking justice for the disappeared.
Arrest As A Tool Of Repression In 2025
By August 2025, SOHR had documented 2,512 new cases of arbitrary arrest or forced disappearance. These detentions often target activists, journalists, and individuals suspected of supporting rival political factions. “No fewer than 124 cases” were logged in August alone, with testimonies indicating a continuation of pre-collapse practices under new authorities.
The Burden On Families And Record-Keeping Groups
The absence of official investigation or legal recourse has left families dependent on documentation groups. Organizations like SOHR and SNHR play an essential role in recording cases and pushing for answers. Their archives serve not only as immediate tools for advocacy but also as potential evidence for future truth and justice initiatives.
Children And Women: The Most Vulnerable Groups
Syria’s youngest and most marginalized citizens remain at the highest risk. As combatants shift and factions compete, the vulnerability of children and women continues across all zones of control.
Their deaths and suffering are often not incidental but symptomatic of broader targeting patterns.
Targeted And Collateral Civilian Deaths
Direct and indirect violence continues to be disproportionately experienced by women and children. In January through April 2025, children had over 10 percent of the civilian deaths. These were airstrikes, landmines and targeted shootings. Torture-related fatalities have not stopped either: five cases of torture-related deaths were registered in April alone, three of them reportedly committed by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which means that breaches are perpetrated by all armed forces.
Evolving Risks In The Post-Regime Landscape
Despite the fact that the collapse of the Assad regime led to a significant change in the situation, new threats appeared where it was gone. Divided rule and boundary conflicts have transformed sections of Syria into volatile zones of contest.
Civilians are left in the crossfire and are mostly left without assurances of protection or redress.
Fragmented Authority, Persistent Insecurity
The overthrow of the Assad regime did not bring about a single ruling system. Rather, various zones are now dominated by transitional bodies and warring militias whose levels of law enforcement and human rights protection differ. In April 2025, dozens of civilians were killed in conflicts in the Damascus suburbs, which revealed the instability of the existing ceasefires and security agreements.
Landmines And Unexploded Ordnance
The post-conflict environment in Syria is still full of unidentified mines. These legacies of war present daily risks in agricultural zones, residential neighborhoods, and urban roads. “None of the parties have released official maps,” note field experts, adding that this lack of disclosure reflects “a chilling total indifference to the lives of civilians, particularly children.”
The Role Of Vigilance And International Attention
Global awareness of Syria’s ongoing crisis has fluctuated, but organizations like SOHR keep the humanitarian consequences front and center. Their reports ensure that no act of violence goes unrecorded.
Their vigilance is not just about data, it is about demanding accountability in a volatile landscape.
Continuous Monitoring As A Lifeline
SOHR’s efforts have remained central to keeping human rights in Syria on the global agenda. “Our monitoring is a lifeline for families demanding justice, and a bulwark against impunity,” a SOHR coordinator explained in a 2025 interview with relief web. These records inform both humanitarian responses and long-term advocacy by international organizations.
Current Clashes Underscore Ongoing Risk
September 2025 saw renewed confrontations between IS-affiliated insurgents and SDF patrols in Deir Ezzor, as well as reports of new arbitrary detentions in transitional zones. These developments confirm that human rights violations persist beyond the formal structures of the Assad regime. The task of documenting abuses and ensuring their visibility remains a critical counterbalance to cycles of impunity.
As 2025 draws to a close, SOHR’s mission continues to gain urgency. In a country still navigating deep political fault lines and security vacuums, its daily reports serve not just as an archive of trauma, but as an appeal for justice that has yet to arrive. Whether transitional authorities will heed this call remains an open question—one that will define Syria’s human rights legacy for the next generation.