List of massacres in Syria

The following is a list of massacres that have occurred in Syria.

Ottoman Empire

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Name Date Location Deaths Perpetrators Notes
Massacre of the Telal 1517 Aleppo 9,400 [1] Turkish soldiers upon Selim I's order Fatwas issued against the Nusayris (or 'Alawites') that declared them infidels. Around 9,400 Nusayris who assembled in Aleppo were all executed.[2]
Tafas massacre 27 September 1918 Tafas 250 Ottoman Empire Massacre from the retreating Ottoman Army against arabic civilians

Syrian Republic/Arab Republic

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Name Date Location Deaths Perpetrators Notes
1947 Aleppo pogrom December 1947 Aleppo 75 Syrian state and Arab population of Aleppo Half the city's Jewish population fled.
1949 Menarsha synagogue bombing August 5, 1949 Damascus 13 Arab Redemption Suicide Phalange Attackers threw grenades into the synagogue during Shabbat services, killing 13 (including 8 children) and wounding 32.[3]

Syrian Arab Republic

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Islamist uprising in Syria

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Name Date Location Deaths Perpetrators Notes
Aleppo Artillery School massacre 16 June 1979 Aleppo 83-110 Muslim Brotherhood of Syria
Jisr al-Shughour massacre (1980) 9 March 1980 Jisr al-Shughour 150–200 Syrian Army
Siege of Aleppo (1980) 1 April 1980 – February 1981 Aleppo 1,000–2,000 Syrian Army Multiple massacres over a period of time.
Tadmor Prison massacre 27 June 1980 Palmyra 500–1,000 Syrian Army
1981 Hama massacre April 1981 Hama 400 Syrian Army Members of the male population rounded up and executed.
1982 Hama massacre February 1982 Hama 10,000–40,000 Syrian Army Genocidal, anti-Sunni sectarian massacre

Syrian Revolution

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Main article: List of massacres during the Syrian civil war
Name Date Location Deaths Perpetrators Notes
December 2011 Jabal al-Zawiya massacres 19–20 December 2011 Jabal Zawiya 120 Syrian Army 120 Syrian Army defectors massacred by the government.
Ram al-Anz and Ghajariyeh massacre 27 February 2012 Ram al-Anz and Ghajariyeh near Homs 68 Syrian government militia Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 68 bodies were found between the villages of Ram al-Enz and Ghajariyeh. Syrian activists blamed pro-government militia.[4][5]
Karm al-Zeitoun massacre 9 March 2012 Karm al-Zeitoun, Homs 47 Syrian Army Syrian Army reportedly massacred 47 people after entering Karm al-Zeitoun.[6]
Taftanaz massacre 5 April 2012 Taftanaz, Idlib Governorate 62 Syrian Army Syrian Army reportedly carried out a massacre by rounding up and executing people following the Battle of Taftanaz.[7][8]
Houla massacre 25 May 2012 Houla 108 Shabiha and Syrian Army 49 children among the dead. The UN concluded Syrian government forces were responsible.[9] However, after eye witness accounts published by German paper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung claimed it was rebel sectarian violence,[10] UNHRC concluded that there was insufficient evidence to determine who had committed the massacre.[11]
Al-Buwaida al-Sharqiya massacre 31 May 2012 Al-Buwaida al-Sharqiya 13 Syrian government forces
Al-Qubair massacre 6 June 2012 Al-Qubair, in Maarzaf 80–100 Syrian Army Victims were stabbed and shot.[12]
Daret Azzeh massacre 22 June 2012 Darat Izza 25 Rebels Rebels claim to have killed 25 men who they accused of being a part of the Shabbiha.[13][14]
Siege of Hama 31 July – 4 August 2012 Hama 100–200 Syrian Army Syrian government forces reportedly killed up to 200 civilians in an assault on the city of Hama.[15]
Darayya massacre 20–25 August 2012 Darayya, Rif Dimashq 320[16]–500[17] Syrian Army Many people were killed in a five-day Army assault on the town, which the rebel army had surrendered .[6] According to the opposition, Human Rights Watch and some local residents the killings were committed by the Syrian military and Shabiha militiamen.[18] According to the government and some local residents they were committed by rebel forces.[19]
Maarrat Al-Nu'man massacre 8 – 13 October 2012 Maarrat al-Nu'man 65 Syrian Army During the Battle of Maarrat Al-Nu'man, the Syrian Army reportedly executed 65 people,[20] including 50 defecting soldiers.[21]
Aqrab massacre 11 December 2012 Aqrab, Hama Governorate 125 (Includes wounded) Rebels Alawite villagers attacked by Syrian rebels, with 10 confirmed killed.[22]
Basatin al-Hasawiya massacre 15 January 2013 Homs 106 Syrian Army Syrian government troops stormed the village of Basatin al-Hasawiya on the outskirts of Homs city reportedly killing 106 civilians.[23]
Queiq River massacre 29 January–14 March 2013 Queiq River, Aleppo 147–230 Syrian Army Between 29 January and 14 March 2013, opposition activists claimed that they found about 230 bodies on the banks and in the Queiq river in Aleppo. They accused government forces of being the ones who executed the men since the bodies came down the river from the direction of government-held areas of the city. Human Rights Watch was able to identify at least 147 victims, all male and aged between 11 and 64.[24]
Tadamon massacre 16 April 2013 Tadamon, Damascus, Syria 41-280+ Syrian Army The Tadamon massacre happened in April 2013 in the Tadamon district of Damascus during the Syrian civil war. Syrian soldiers from Military Intelligence 227 killed 41 civilians near the Ottoman Mosque. The victims were executed individually and buried in mass graves.[25][26]
Battle of Jdaidet al-Fadl 16–21 April 2013 Rif Dimashq 100–300 Syrian Army Syrian Army was accused by the opposition of carrying out a massacre. SOHR claimed that 250 people were killed since the start of the battle, with them being able to document, by name, 127 of the dead, including 27 rebels. Another opposition claim put the death toll at 450.[27][28][29] One activist source claimed he counted 98 bodies in the town's streets and 86 in makeshift clinics who were summarily executed. Another activist stated they documented 85 people who were executed, including 28 who were killed in a makeshift hospital.[30]
Bayda and Baniyas massacres 2–3 May 2013 Bayda and Baniyas, Tartus Governorate 128–450 Alawite militias Assault by Alawite militias against the local Sunni population.[31][32]
Hatla massacre 11 June 2013 Hatla, Deir el-Zour 60 Rebels Shiite villagers killed by Syrian rebels.
Khan al-Assal massacre 22 July 2013 Khan al-Asal, Aleppo 51-123+ Rebels Rebels executed 51–123 POWs and Civilians.[33]
Alawite villages of Latakia countryside massacres 4 August 2013 Latakia Governorate 190+ Rebels Rebel groups, al-Nusra Front, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar, Ahrar al-Sham and Suqour al-Ezz, attacked and overran army positions in the Sheikh Nabhan area. Human Rights Watch claimed some 190 noncombatants were killed.[34]
Ghouta chemical attack 21 August 2013 Al-Ghouta, Damascus, Syria 281[35]–1,729 [36] Syrian Army Syrian activists reported that government forces struck Jobar, Zamalka, 'Ain Tirma, and Hazzah in the Eastern Ghouta region with chemical weapons.
Adra massacre 6 December 2013 Adra, Syria 32–80 Al-Nusra Front This was the alleged massacre of at least 32 civilians in the industrial town of Adra, Syria. Government claims that at least 80 were killed.[37] It was reportedly conducted by the al-Nusra Front and Jaysh al-Islam, a subgroup of the Islamic Front.[38][39]
Shu'aytat massacre Mid August 2014 Deir ez-Zor Governorate 700  Islamic State In mid August Islamic State fighters massacred some 700 people, mostly men, of the Shu'aytat tribe in Deir ez-Zor Governorate.[40]
Eshtabraq massacre 25 April 2015 Eshtabraq, Idlib Governorate 200+ Al-Nusra Front After Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamist allies in the "Army of Conquest" seized Jisr al-Shughour, they attacked an Alawite village named Eshtabraq and committed the massacre.[41]
Palmyra massacre 22 May 2015 Tadmur, Homs Governorate 400+  Islamic State After capturing the city of Palmyra, Islamic State massacred over 400 civilians[42]
Qalb Loze massacre 10 June 2015 Idlib Governorate 23+ Al-Nusra Front On 10 June al-Nusra massacred a Druze community in the village from Qalb lawza in Idlib province [43]
Kafr Saghir massacre 20 March 2016 Kafr Saghir, Aleppo Governorate 20+  Islamic State Islamic State massacred 20+ Arabs and Kurds while attacking the Government held town of Kafr Saghir [44]
Zara'a massacre 12 May 2016 Hama Governorate 49+ Al-Nusra Front Rebels led by the Al-Qaeda branch Jabhat al-Nusra and Ahrar ash-Sham massacred 42 civilians and seven NDF militiamen while kidnapping up to 70 people after taking control of the Alawite village of Zara'a in Southern Hama.[45][46]
May 2016 Jableh and Tartus bombings 23 May 2016 Jableh and Tartus, Latakia Governorate 189  ISIS Series of car bomb and suicide attacks in government-controlled territory that hosts Russian military bases
Khan Shaykhun chemical attack 4 April 2017 Khan Shaykhun 89–100+ Syrian Arab Air Force
Douma chemical attack 7 April 2018 Douma, Syria 48–85 Syrian Armed Forces[47]
2018 As-Suwayda attacks 25 July 2018 As-Suwayda 258  Islamic State
The Baghuz strike 18 March 2019 Baghuz ~70 United States United States Air Force American F-15E attack jet dropped a 500-pound bomb on large group of women and children huddled at river bank near a dirt field in the town of Baghuz. A jet tracking them then dropped two 2,000-pound bombs on the remaining survivors, killing them all. [48]
Ma'arrat Nu'man market bombing 22 July 2019 Maarrat al-Numan, Idlib Governorate 43 Russian Air Force
Qah missile strike 20 November 2019 Qah 15 Syria Syrian Arab Army
Iran Iranian militias in Syria
2023 Homs drone strike 5 October 2023 Homs Military Academy, Homs 95 Unknown Syrian military graduation ceremony at the Homs Military Academy was targeted by a drone strike, leaving 95 people dead and over 277 injured
Majdal Shams attack 27 July 2024 Majdal Shams, Israeli-occupied Golan Heights 00012}12  Hezbollah (according to UNIFIL, Israel and the US)
 Israel (according to Hezbollah and Syria) 		Twelve people, all children, are killed in rocket strikes on the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Extremist Shiites: The Ghulat Sects. Syracuse University Press. 1987. p. 275. ISBN 0-8156-2411-5. Sultan Selim I summoned some Sunnite religious men and obtained from them a fatwa (juristic opinion) to fight the "infidel Alawis," or Shiites. It is estimated that 9,400 Shiite men assembled in Aleppo; all were maliciously murdered by the order of the Ottoman Sultan on the sanction of the Sunnite religious leader
  2. ^ "Ottoman Empire massacre against Alawites". Syrian Center for Studies. 9 May 2017. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  3. ^ "They did not reach the border". Israel Hayom. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  4. ^ Liz Sly (27 February 2012). "Syrian Activists: 64 Bodies Found Near Homs in One of the Worst Mass Killings". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  5. ^ "125 Civilians Killed in Syria, Including 68 in Homs Region 'Massacre'". Naharnet. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Syrian activists claim 16 people killed in Homs reprisal attacks". The Guardian. 24 March 2012.
  7. ^ Massacre in Syrian town of Taftanaz, BBC.
  8. ^ Syria Crisis: Taftanaz Massacre Haunts Town 2 Month Later, The Huffington Post.
  9. ^ "Houla massacre: UN blames Syria troops and militia". Bbc.co.uk. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Another Massacre in Syria". spiegel.de. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Houla massacre: A look back at the houla massacre". spiegel.de. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  12. ^ "New 'massacre' reported in Syria's Hama province". BBC News. 7 June 2012.
  13. ^ AFP. "Syria says 25 dead in rebel 'massacre'". Emirates 24/7. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  14. ^ "Syrian rebels accused of massacring 25 people in village". BBC News. 22 June 2012.
  15. ^ Civilian Toll Is Mounting in Assault on Syrian City, The New York Times.
  16. ^ "Dozens more bodies found at Syria massacre site". Los Angeles Times. 27 August 2012.
  17. ^ "Syria crisis: Daraya massacre leaves a ghost town still counting its dead". The Guardian. 7 September 2012.
  18. ^ "NOW". Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  19. ^ Fisk, Robert (29 August 2012). "Robert Fisk: Inside Daraya – how a failed prisoner swap turned into a massacre". The Independent.
  20. ^ Naeem, Asad; AFP (11 October 2012). "Syria rebels cut highway to northern battlefields". Maarrat al-Nu'man: Business Recorder. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  21. ^ Oweis, Khaled Yacoub; Diana Abdallah (10 October 2012). "Rebels say halt Syrian army attempt to retake town". Amman: Reuters. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  22. ^ Up to 200 hurt in attack on Syrian Alawite village – activists. Reuters (6 December 2012).
  23. ^ "Massacre of over 100 reported in Syria's Homs". Reuters. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  24. ^ "Bodies in Syria river likely killed in govt areas". News24. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  25. ^ "Massacre in Tadamon: How two academics hunted down a Syrian war criminal". The Guardian. 27 April 2022.
  26. ^ "قرابين التضامن". 27 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Syria army seizes Jdaidet al-Fadl 'killing dozens'". BBC News. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  28. ^ "At least 100 dead after 6 days of clashes in Syria, activists say". Fox News. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  29. ^ "Some 150 were killed on Monday". Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  30. ^ "Assad's forces kill 85 in Damascus suburb, activists say". Reuters. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  31. ^ "Syrian activists document al-Bayda and Baniyas 'massacre'". BBC News. 28 May 2013.
  32. ^ "Syrian forces responsible for Banias massacres: U.N. report". Yahoo News. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  33. ^ Syrian Arab News Agency: SANA, Damascus Syria – syria news (27 July 2013). "Syrian Arab news agency – SANA – Syria : Syria news ::". Sana.sy. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  34. ^ James Reynolds (11 October 2013). "Syria rebels executed civilians, says Human Rights Watch". BBC News. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  35. ^ AFP. "France says 'at least 281' killed in Syria chemical attack". The Daily Star (Lebanon). Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  36. ^ "Bodies still being found after alleged Syria chemical attack: opposition". The Daily Star. Lebanon. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  37. ^ "Syrian regime drops barrel bombs in air attack in Aleppo; 78 dead include 28 children". NewsComAu. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  38. ^ "Syrian troops launch offensive after dozens killed". Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  39. ^ "Civilian Massacres in Syria". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  40. ^ Liz Sly (20 October 2014). "Syria tribal revolt against Islamic State ignored, fueling resentment". Washington Post. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  41. ^ Scott Lucas (29 April 2015). "Syria Daily, April 29: Assad Regime — "The Media Are Lying About Rebel Victories"". EA World view. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  42. ^ Doug Bolton (24 May 2015). "Just days after seizing Palmyra, Isis massacres 400 people in the ancient city". Doug Bolton. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  43. ^ Joshua Landis (15 June 2015). "The Massacre of Druze Villagers in Qalb Lawza, Idlib Province". Joshua Landis. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  44. ^ Leith Fadel (20 March 2016). "ISIS massacres over 20 civilians in east Aleppo: activists". Al Masdar. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  45. ^ Leith Fadel (12 May 2016). "Syrian opposition forces massacre, kidnap 120 civilians in southern Hama". Al Masdar News. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  46. ^ "Islamists agree to hand over corpses of civilians massacred in northern Homs". Al-Masdar News. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  47. ^ "opcw". Archived from the original on 27 January 2023.
  48. ^ Philipps, Dave; Schmitt, Eric (13 November 2021). "How the U.S. Hid an Airstrike That Killed Dozens of Civilians in Syria". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
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