The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said that it had documented the death of 1,271 civilians in Syria during the month of June. A total of 6,567 civilians were killed during the first half of 2016, the network said in report released on Friday.
The report pointed out that the Assad regime was responsible for the death of 3,471 civilians, including 590 children, an average of four children a day, and 422 women. At least 230 people were killed under torture in the prisons of the Assad regime. Children and women accounted for nearly 30% of the total civilian casualties, an indication that the Assad regime deliberately targets civilians.
The rights group added that 1,378 civilians, including 310 children and 179 women, were killed in Russian aerial bombardment, while 78 civilians, including 10 children and 3 women, were killed at the hands of the PYD militia. Four civilians were killed under torture in the prisons of the PYD militia.
Moreover, 785 civilians were killed at the hands of extremist groups during the first half of 2016. Of those, 764 were killed by ISIS. The victims included 103 children and 146 women, in addition to 7 adults who were killed under torture.
The report stressed that the Assad regime and Russian forces continue to violate international human rights laws on a large scale in Syria. It referred to dozens of cases in which all elements of war crimes are present. According to the hundreds of eyewitness accounts, the report said, over 90% of attacks by the Assad regime were directed against civilians and civilian objects. (Source: Syrian Coalition)