The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) released a report on 8 May documenting widespread sectarian violence in Syria following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government and the rise of a new interim authority led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.
According to the SOHR, at least 7,342 people have been killed since December, including 5,514 civilians. The Observatory attributes the surge in violence to the dismantling of military and security structures by the new caretaker leadership, which is dominated by figures affiliated with the armed Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Al-Sharaa, a former HTS commander, took control of Damascus on 8 December and declared himself interim president on 29 January. His government has faced widespread criticism for authoritarian practices and a lack of credible democratic transition.
Among the 5,514 civilians killed, the SOHR reports that 4,852 were men, 402 women, and 260 children. At least 2,092 of the deaths were due to field executions, many of them near Syria’s coastal regions, where former regime checkpoints have become flashpoints for violent clashes. The report also highlights widespread looting and the seizure of private and public property in these areas.
The Observatory warned that the violence is likely to continue without international intervention and urged global actors to support efforts for democratisation in Syria. It reaffirmed its commitment to documenting human rights violations amid the country’s ongoing instability.
