At least 384,000 people have died in Syria, including more than 116,000 civilians, since the war began in March 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday.

Sparked by deadly repression of peaceful pro-democracy protests, the conflict has drawn in outside powers in a complex war involving rebel factions, jihadist groups and foreign interests.

As the war enters its 10th year, the government of President Bashar al-Assad now controls more than 70 per cent of Syrian territory, thanks to the military support of its allies Russia, Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/east-syria-strike-kills-26-iraqi-fighters-monitor-285947"> East Syria strike kills 26 Iraqi fighters: Monitor</a>

The conflict is the "worst man-made disaster since World War II," the United Nations human rights chief declared in 2017.

The war has destroyed the economy and caused more than 11 million Syrians to flee their homes.

According to the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, the latest death toll includes about 22,000 children and 13,000 women.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/syria-war-enters-10th-year-with-no-hope-in-sight-285777">Syria war enters 10th year with no hope in sight</a>

At least 129,476 Syrian soldiers, allied forces and militiamen have died, according to the Britain-based war monitor, including 1,697 members of Hezbollah.

Nearly 57,000 rebels have died, as well as 13,624 members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which spearheaded the US-backed campaign against the Islamic State group, the Observatory said.

The Observatory tallied 67,296 deaths among jihadists loyal to IS or to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance led by a former Al-Qaeda affiliate that dominates the last rebel enclave in the Idlib region in the northwest.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/fragmented-politics-of-syrian-refugee-crisis-jeopardises-the-future-of-millions-285579"> Fragmented politics of Syrian refugee crisis jeopardises the future of millions</a>

The death toll included 421 unidentified victims.

After recent government advances, Idlib province is the last battleground between government forces, and the jihadists and their rebel allies.

Damascus launched an offensive to take the region in December, causing close to one million people to flee, according to the United Nations, before Ankara and Moscow negotiated a ceasefire earlier this month.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/senior-member-of-irans-revolutionary-guards-killed-in-syria-report-284924">Senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria: Report</a>

NGOs continue to denounce human rights abuses by the Syrian government, including lethal chemical attacks, torture and arbitrary arrest.

Tens of thousands of people have been subject to forced disappearances by the government or a myriad of armed groups, NGOs report.

The war has destroyed infrastructure and crucial sectors of the economy including the oil industry.

At least 384,000 people have died in Syria, including more than 116,000 civilians, since the war began in March 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday.

At least 384,000 people have died in Syria, including more than 116,000 civilians, since the war began in March 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday. Sparked by deadly repression of peaceful pro-democracy protests, the conflict has drawn in outside powers in a complex war involving rebel factions, jihadist groups and foreign interests. As the war enters its 10th year, the government of President Bashar al-Assad now controls more than 70 per cent of Syrian territory, thanks to the military support of its allies Russia, Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Also read: East Syria strike kills 26 Iraqi fighters: Monitor The conflict is the "worst man-made disaster since World War II," the United Nations human rights chief declared in 2017. The war has destroyed the economy and caused more than 11 million Syrians to flee their homes. According to the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, the latest death toll includes about 22,000 children and 13,000 women. Also see: Syria war enters 10th year with no hope in sight At least 129,476 Syrian soldiers, allied forces and militiamen have died, according to the Britain-based war monitor, including 1,697 members of Hezbollah. Nearly 57,000 rebels have died, as well as 13,624 members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which spearheaded the US-backed campaign against the Islamic State group, the Observatory said. The Observatory tallied 67,296 deaths among jihadists loyal to IS or to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance led by a former Al-Qaeda affiliate that dominates the last rebel enclave in the Idlib region in the northwest. Also read: Fragmented politics of Syrian refugee crisis jeopardises the future of millions The death toll included 421 unidentified victims. After recent government advances, Idlib province is the last battleground between government forces, and the jihadists and their rebel allies. Damascus launched an offensive to take the region in December, causing close to one million people to flee, according to the United Nations, before Ankara and Moscow negotiated a ceasefire earlier this month. Also see: Senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria: Report NGOs continue to denounce human rights abuses by the Syrian government, including lethal chemical attacks, torture and arbitrary arrest. Tens of thousands of people have been subject to forced disappearances by the government or a myriad of armed groups, NGOs report. The war has destroyed infrastructure and crucial sectors of the economy including the oil industry.

Syria death toll 384,000 after nine years of war: Monitor

Reports of civilian deaths from US-led air strikes in Iraq and Syria have soared in recent months, raising questions about whether President Donald Trump&#39;s order to &quot;annihilate&quot; the Islamic State group is fueling the increase.

The Pentagon vehemently denies this, and insists its targeting procedures and protocols to avoid civilian casualties have not changed.&nbsp;

Here is a look at what is going on.

How many are dying? -

Since the campaign to defeat IS in Iraq and Syria began in August 2014, the coalition has conducted 21,663 strikes -- 12,740 Iraq in and 8,923 Syria.

According to an official tally at the end of April, the Pentagon confirmed at least 352 civilians had been killed.

That toll came before Thursday&#39;s announcement that at least 105 people were killed in an anti-IS strike in the Iraqi city of Mosul in March. The official numbers are also dwarfed by claims from monitoring groups.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights this week reported the highest monthly civilian death toll for the coalition&#39;s operations in Syria.

It said between April 23 and May 23, coalition strikes killed 225 civilians in Syria, including dozens of children.

Airwars, a London-based collective of journalists and researchers that tracks civilian deaths in Iraq and Syria, claims a minimum of 3,681 people have died in coalition strikes -- between 283 and 366 of them in April alone.

What has changed?&nbsp;

Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to quickly defeat IS, ordered his generals to come up with a revised plan to defeat the jihadist group.

The review resulted in an &quot;annihilation campaign&quot; to kill all IS fighters, and saw commanders gain greater autonomy to make battlefield decisions.

Observers worry this is translating to a greater willingness to risk civilian life.&nbsp;

Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU National Security Project, voiced concerns the White House can&#39;t be trusted to provide accurate information about civilian deaths, and whether guidance has changed.

&quot;Even in war, there are rules and those rules are aimed at protecting civilian life,&quot; she told AFP.&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s not at all clear that all feasible precautions are being taken to protect civilian life.&quot;

What does the Pentagon say?&nbsp;

The Pentagon strongly disputes such assertions, and says that protecting civilians is&nbsp;a top priority in assessing targets.

&quot;Throughout this fight, every target goes through our refined process to ensure it&#39;s not only a legitimate target under the law of armed conflict, but that it meets a threshold of proportionality and necessity,&quot; said Lieutenant General Jeffrey Harrigian, who heads US Air Forces Central Command.

Only 0.24 per cent of engagements have resulted in a &quot;credible&quot; report of civilian casualties, according to the Pentagon.&nbsp;

So what is happening?&nbsp;

The battlefield is changing, and in some places very quickly.

Whereas at the start of the campaign, the coalition was primarily striking IS fighters as they moved across large areas of open terrain, the fight is now focused on predominantly urban areas.&nbsp;

In Iraq&#39;s second city Mosul, for instance, IS jihadists are operating from tightly populated areas. The March 17 strike that resulted in the death of at least 105 civilians came when IS snipers were spotted in a building.&nbsp;

The air strike on the snipers inadvertently caused a stash of IS munitions to blow up, triggering the building&#39;s collapse, according to the Pentagon.&nbsp;

Brian McKeon, a senior Pentagon policy official at the end of the Obama administration, said the increasing civilian toll is due to fighting in a city, rather than any policy change under Trump.&nbsp;

&quot;They are trying very hard to avoid civilian casualties because,&quot; he said.

&quot;It&#39;s what the law tells them, and they want to avoid handing ISIS propaganda victories. But the risk of making mistakes is going to go up when you are operating in an urban environment.&quot;

(AFP)

Civilian casualties have alarmingly increased in recent months

Reports of civilian deaths from US-led air strikes in Iraq and Syria have soared in recent months, raising questions about whether President Donald Trump's order to "annihilate" the Islamic State group is fueling the increase. The Pentagon vehemently denies this, and insists its targeting procedures and protocols to avoid civilian casualties have not changed. Here is a look at what is going on. How many are dying? - Since the campaign to defeat IS in Iraq and Syria began in August 2014, the coalition has conducted 21,663 strikes -- 12,740 Iraq in and 8,923 Syria. According to an official tally at the end of April, the Pentagon confirmed at least 352 civilians had been killed. That toll came before Thursday's announcement that at least 105 people were killed in an anti-IS strike in the Iraqi city of Mosul in March. The official numbers are also dwarfed by claims from monitoring groups. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights this week reported the highest monthly civilian death toll for the coalition's operations in Syria. It said between April 23 and May 23, coalition strikes killed 225 civilians in Syria, including dozens of children. Airwars, a London-based collective of journalists and researchers that tracks civilian deaths in Iraq and Syria, claims a minimum of 3,681 people have died in coalition strikes -- between 283 and 366 of them in April alone. What has changed? Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to quickly defeat IS, ordered his generals to come up with a revised plan to defeat the jihadist group. The review resulted in an "annihilation campaign" to kill all IS fighters, and saw commanders gain greater autonomy to make battlefield decisions. Observers worry this is translating to a greater willingness to risk civilian life. Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU National Security Project, voiced concerns the White House can't be trusted to provide accurate information about civilian deaths, and whether guidance has changed. "Even in war, there are rules and those rules are aimed at protecting civilian life," she told AFP. "It's not at all clear that all feasible precautions are being taken to protect civilian life." What does the Pentagon say? The Pentagon strongly disputes such assertions, and says that protecting civilians is a top priority in assessing targets. "Throughout this fight, every target goes through our refined process to ensure it's not only a legitimate target under the law of armed conflict, but that it meets a threshold of proportionality and necessity," said Lieutenant General Jeffrey Harrigian, who heads US Air Forces Central Command. Only 0.24 per cent of engagements have resulted in a "credible" report of civilian casualties, according to the Pentagon. So what is happening? The battlefield is changing, and in some places very quickly. Whereas at the start of the campaign, the coalition was primarily striking IS fighters as they moved across large areas of open terrain, the fight is now focused on predominantly urban areas. In Iraq's second city Mosul, for instance, IS jihadists are operating from tightly populated areas. The March 17 strike that resulted in the death of at least 105 civilians came when IS snipers were spotted in a building. The air strike on the snipers inadvertently caused a stash of IS munitions to blow up, triggering the building's collapse, according to the Pentagon. Brian McKeon, a senior Pentagon policy official at the end of the Obama administration, said the increasing civilian toll is due to fighting in a city, rather than any policy change under Trump. "They are trying very hard to avoid civilian casualties because," he said. "It's what the law tells them, and they want to avoid handing ISIS propaganda victories. But the risk of making mistakes is going to go up when you are operating in an urban environment." (AFP)

Reasons for surge in death toll in Iraq, Syria

syria-death-toll

Syria Death Toll, News on Syria Death Toll, stories on Syria Death Toll, articles on Syria Death Toll, Syria Death Toll stories at Wion, Syria Death Toll news, Syria Death Toll latest news

syria death-toll

Syria death toll 384,000 after nine years of war: Monitor

Reasons for surge in death toll in Iraq, Syria