The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented the deaths of at least five civilians, killed by gunfire from unidentified groups in various parts of Syria, on Thursday and Friday, October 2-3, 2025.
SNHR expresses its regret at the continued occurrence of extrajudicial killings and stresses the need to work hard to ensure the protection of civilian lives, especially in light of the political changes and the transition to a transitional phase that is supposed to be dedicated to promoting stability and the rule of law.
SNHR believes that the repeated occurrence of civilian casualties indicates continuing gaps in protection and accountability systems and highlights the need to strengthen institutions that guarantee respect for fundamental rights in accordance with international human rights law.
In this context, SNHR stresses the importance of adhering to the principle of distinction between civilians and others, and the need to take all possible measures to preserve the safety of individuals and their property.
SNHR also calls for continued efforts to prevent the recurrence of the grave violations experienced by Syrians during years of internal conflict, through legal and institutional channels that respect human dignity and contribute to building community trust and promoting justice. Preventing the recurrence of the grave violations suffered by the Syrian people over the years.
Background:
For fourteen years, the Syrian Network for Human Rights team has been documenting violations against civilians in Syria on a daily basis, following a rigorous methodology based on international standards of documentation. The accumulated database has shown that most serious violations, including killings, have taken place in a context of complete impunity, with little accountability.
During these years, SNHR has documented the deaths of more than a quarter of a million civilians, the vast majority of whom were killed by the former Bashar al-Assad regime and its allies, who are responsible for at least 91% of the total documented victims.
Recommendations for the protection of civilians during the transition:
This daily toll comes in the context of a critical transition phase in Syria, which requires immediate and comprehensive reform of the security system and the activation of justice and accountability mechanisms to ensure that past violations are not repeated and to stop the remaining killings and ongoing violations.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights recommends the following:
- Take immediate steps to strengthen security in all areas and activate the rule of law in a fair and comprehensive manner.
- Activate independent and transparent mechanisms to investigate violations and hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of their identities or positions.
- Accelerate the removal of mines and unexploded ordnance scattered in many areas, in cooperation with specialized organizations.
- Ensure that patterns of impunity that have contributed to fueling violence are not repeated and establish a system that protects human rights without discrimination.
- SNHR also calls on Israeli forces to respect Syria’s sovereignty and not to violate the rules of international humanitarian law, which oblige all parties to the conflict to take all possible precautions to protect civilians, including issuing advance warnings when targeting areas close to the population.
