At least 872 civilians were killed in Syria during the month of May, a third of which (33%) were women and children, according to a new report by a Syrian rights monitor.
In a study published on its website, the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed out that the percentage is considered a "stark indication of the deliberate targeting of civilians by regime forces."
The Network noted that regime troops and allied militias were responsible for killing about 498 civilians, including 89 children, 73 women and torturing 46 others to death. It also claimed that Russian forces are suspected to have killed about 49 civilians including 15 children and six women.
The report went on to say that six civilians, including a child, were tortured to death by Kurdish People’s Protection Units.
"About 183 civilians were killed by the extremist organizations, 178 of which were killed by ISIS (including 21 children and 38 women, while four people were tortured to death) while five others were killed by the Nusra Front,” it reported.
It added that: “The number of civilians killed by the armed opposition were 91, of which 19 were children and 31 were women."
The network also mentioned that the US-led international coalition had killed 15 civilians, including eight children and three women.
The report also documented the deaths of 30 civilians (including two children and four women) who died in explosions where the Network was unable to identify the culprit, as well as those who died at the hands of anonymous armed groups, or who perished at sea while migrating.
The report also mentioned that, "A day after the High Negotiations Committee announced it was postponing its participation in the Geneva talks on April 19, the regime and Russian forces began bombing the areas out of the regime's control. The situation has reverted to the same as it was before the truce."
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
