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.

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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.

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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

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon on Sunday accused Russia of being &quot;responsible&quot; by proxy for the death of 87 civilians, including many children, killed last week in a suspected chemical weapons attack.

&quot;Assad&#39;s principal backer is Russia. By proxy Russia is responsible for every civilian death last week,&quot; Fallon wrote in an opinion column published in The Sunday Times. &nbsp;

&quot;If Russia wants to be absolved of responsibility for future attacks, Vladimir Putin needs to enforce commitments, to dismantle Assad&#39;s chemical weapons arsenal for good, and to get fully engaged with the UN peacekeeping progress,&quot; he added.

Fallon reiterated Britain&#39;s position that Assad should quit.

&quot;Someone who uses barrel bombs and chemicals to kill his own people simply cannot be the future leader of Syria,&quot; he wrote.&nbsp;

Assad&#39;s future role is a key sticking point -- the rebels and their international backers demand that he must step down.

But Assad refuses to budge. His key ally in Moscow has backed him to the hilt against the rebels.

&quot;Today we call on all parties to get back to the table and get a deal done,&quot; the British defence minister said.

&quot;That deal must lead to a representative government in which Assad will play no part&quot;.

He also once again offered Britain&#39;s support to the United States for its decision on Friday to fire 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the airfield located near Homs in central Syria.&nbsp;

The move was in response to the suspected chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun which killed 87 people according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights.

&quot;Given repeated Russian blocking in the UN security council, the US was determined to act,&quot; Fallon said, adding President Trump made &quot;the right call by resorting to careful and narrowly focused military action&quot;.

Russia has criticised the US military intervention as a &quot;gross... violation of international law&quot;.

It also slammed the British foreign secretary Boris Johnson&#39;s decision to cancel a scheduled visit to Russia, claiming Britain has &quot;no real influence&quot; internationally.

Johnson decided to abandon his visit to Moscow on Monday, saying he deplored &quot;Russia&#39;s continued defence of the Assad regime&quot;.

He argued it would be best for US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to deliver a &quot;clear and coordinated message&quot; to the Russians during his own visit to Moscow later in the week.&nbsp;

Priti Patel, Britain&#39;s Secretary of State for international development also announced on Sunday that the country was to increase its support of medical aid in Syria in the wake of the attack.

The new funding totalling &pound;7 million ($8.6 million, 8.2 million euros) would be donated to the World Health Organization (WHO) and two undisclosed non-governmental organisations.

According to the statement, the allocation was to be used to provide clean water for 500,000 people, medicines and medical supplies to over 400 clinics and hospitals, and training for more than 400 Syrian health workers.

Britain donated &pound;10.7 million to WHO in the 2016/17 financial year. 
 
(AFP)

 
&nbsp;

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon Sunday accused Russia of being 'responsible' by proxy for the death of 87 civilians

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon on Sunday accused Russia of being "responsible" by proxy for the death of 87 civilians, including many children, killed last week in a suspected chemical weapons attack. "Assad's principal backer is Russia. By proxy Russia is responsible for every civilian death last week," Fallon wrote in an opinion column published in The Sunday Times. "If Russia wants to be absolved of responsibility for future attacks, Vladimir Putin needs to enforce commitments, to dismantle Assad's chemical weapons arsenal for good, and to get fully engaged with the UN peacekeeping progress," he added. Fallon reiterated Britain's position that Assad should quit. "Someone who uses barrel bombs and chemicals to kill his own people simply cannot be the future leader of Syria," he wrote. Assad's future role is a key sticking point -- the rebels and their international backers demand that he must step down. But Assad refuses to budge. His key ally in Moscow has backed him to the hilt against the rebels. "Today we call on all parties to get back to the table and get a deal done," the British defence minister said. "That deal must lead to a representative government in which Assad will play no part". He also once again offered Britain's support to the United States for its decision on Friday to fire 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the airfield located near Homs in central Syria. The move was in response to the suspected chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun which killed 87 people according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. "Given repeated Russian blocking in the UN security council, the US was determined to act," Fallon said, adding President Trump made "the right call by resorting to careful and narrowly focused military action". Russia has criticised the US military intervention as a "gross... violation of international law". It also slammed the British foreign secretary Boris Johnson's decision to cancel a scheduled visit to Russia, claiming Britain has "no real influence" internationally. Johnson decided to abandon his visit to Moscow on Monday, saying he deplored "Russia's continued defence of the Assad regime". He argued it would be best for US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to deliver a "clear and coordinated message" to the Russians during his own visit to Moscow later in the week. Priti Patel, Britain's Secretary of State for international development also announced on Sunday that the country was to increase its support of medical aid in Syria in the wake of the attack. The new funding totalling £7 million ($8.6 million, 8.2 million euros) would be donated to the World Health Organization (WHO) and two undisclosed non-governmental organisations. According to the statement, the allocation was to be used to provide clean water for 500,000 people, medicines and medical supplies to over 400 clinics and hospitals, and training for more than 400 Syrian health workers. Britain donated £10.7 million to WHO in the 2016/17 financial year. (AFP)

Russia 'responsible by proxy' for deaths in Syria chemical attacks: UK

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

Russia 'responsible by proxy' for deaths in Syria chemical attacks: UK