Syria in 2023: Ongoing Conflict, Humanitarian Crisis, and Struggles for Justice
This article summarizes the most significant points from Amnesty International’s 2023/2024 report on Syria, highlighting the persistent human rights violations, armed conflict, and the humanitarian challenges faced by millions of Syrians.
Unlawful Attacks and Civilian Casualties
All parties involved in the conflict, including the Syrian government, its allies, opposition groups, and foreign actors, continued to carry out unlawful attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. These attacks included both air and ground offensives, which targeted populated areas in northern Syria, leading to the deaths and injuries of dozens of civilians.
The Syrian government, supported by Russian forces, ramped up its aerial bombardments on opposition-held areas in northwest Syria. Between October and December 2023, these airstrikes intensified, with the United Nations reporting that they had resulted in the deaths of 99 civilians and injuries to over 400 by December 21. In addition to the human toll, these attacks caused widespread destruction of vital infrastructure, including 23 healthcare facilities and 17 schools.
Before this escalation, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria had documented several unlawful attacks by the Syrian government. One such incident occurred on April 9, when government forces shelled the crowded town of Sarmin, located in Idlib province, killing a 13-year-old boy and injuring three other children playing outside their homes. Similarly, on June 22, government forces launched unguided rockets at Sarmin, killing a woman and injuring a boy and four other women.
In addition to the Syrian government’s actions, Russian forces were also implicated in unlawful attacks. On June 25, a Russian airstrike hit a residential building adjacent to a vegetable market in Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib province, killing three civilians and wounding 34 others.
Turkish and Israeli Involvement
Turkey, which maintains a significant military presence in northern Syria, was responsible for multiple attacks on Kurdish-controlled areas. On January 18, a suspected Turkish missile strike targeted a truck near a store in Al-Hasakah province, killing a man and an 11-year-old boy. Turkish airstrikes increased after a bombing in Ankara on October 1, claimed by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). In retaliation, Turkey launched airstrikes on Kurdish areas in northeast Syria, claiming the lives of 58 Kurdish fighters. The Kurdish administration reported that Turkish airstrikes between October 5 and 6 killed 11 civilians, damaged critical infrastructure such as oil fields, power stations, hospitals, and schools, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of people in Al-Hasakah and Qamishli.
Israel, too, maintained an active military role in Syria throughout 2023. Israeli forces launched multiple airstrikes targeting Syrian government forces, Iranian militias, and Hezbollah positions. On October 12, during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel bombed the international airports in Aleppo and Damascus. These strikes were part of a broader pattern of Israeli operations aimed at weakening Iran’s influence in Syria and curbing Hezbollah’s presence in the country.
In response to Israeli actions, pro-government forces fired missiles into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on October 15, further escalating tensions. Israel has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967, and this territory remains a flashpoint in the region.
Humanitarian Crisis and Earthquake Impact
The humanitarian situation in Syria, already dire due to the ongoing conflict, was exacerbated by two massive earthquakes that struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, 2023. The first earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, and the second, at 7.5, caused widespread destruction in both countries. In Syria, the United Nations estimated that at least 6,000 people were killed, and 400,000 families were displaced. More than 8.8 million Syrians were left in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, with the earthquakes compounding the existing economic hardships in the country.
Prior to the earthquakes, more than half of Syria’s population was already facing food insecurity, and the natural disaster further strained the limited resources available to them. The northern regions, particularly those under opposition control, suffered the most, as the government restricted aid access and delayed the delivery of assistance to affected areas. In some Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Aleppo, including Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, authorities took up to seven days to negotiate aid entry. This delay aggravated the humanitarian crisis, as civilians burned household items and plastic for warmth during the harsh winter conditions.
Humanitarian organizations also faced difficulties delivering aid to the Rukban camp, located in a desolate area near the Jordanian border. Approximately 8,000 people living in this informal camp had no access to basic necessities such as healthcare, clean water, and sanitation. Despite the pressing needs, the Syrian government continued to block aid to the camp, leaving its residents in increasingly desperate conditions.
Arbitrary Detentions and Enforced Disappearances
The Syrian government continued its practice of arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances in 2023. Tens of thousands of individuals, including journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers, and political activists, remained missing after being forcibly disappeared by the government. Many of these individuals had been detained for over a decade, with no information provided to their families about their fate.
In March, the government arrested several activists for criticizing its policies and handling of services. For example, on March 23, security forces detained activist Rami Vitale in Latakia, allegedly in response to a Facebook post in which he called for accountability for perpetrators of torture. Similarly, in September, political activist Lama Abbas was arrested without a warrant after she urged residents in Latakia to avoid selling their land. These incidents highlight the government’s ongoing suppression of free expression through arbitrary arrests and detention.
Syrian refugees forcibly returned from Lebanon were also at risk of arrest upon their return to Syria. Several deported refugees were detained by Syrian security forces at the border, with some subjected to further abuses. Two former detainees reported being held in a detention facility near the Lebanese border until their families paid bribes for their release. Other deported refugees were transferred to notorious detention centers in Damascus, such as the Palestine Branch, known for severe torture and mistreatment.
The situation was no better in opposition-controlled areas. Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an extremist group with links to Al-Qaeda, continued its policy of arbitrary detention in Idlib province. The group detained journalists, activists, and those who opposed its rule without providing legal recourse or allowing access to lawyers and families. In one instance, HTS held a man for a week in January after he criticized religious sermons delivered by the group.
Legal Developments and Accountability Efforts
Efforts to bring justice for the victims of the Syrian conflict made some headway in 2023. On June 29, the United Nations General Assembly approved the establishment of an independent international body to clarify the fate of the tens of thousands of missing and forcibly disappeared individuals in Syria. This body is tasked with determining the whereabouts of the missing and providing compensation to their families.
On September 8, a French court announced that it would try three senior Syrian military officials in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The trial, set for May 2024, will focus on the officials’ involvement in chemical weapons attacks and other atrocities committed during the Syrian civil war.
In October, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) held its first public hearing in a case brought by Canada and the Netherlands against the Syrian government, accusing it of violating the United Nations Convention against Torture. The court’s decision in November required Syria to take all necessary measures to prevent acts of torture and other human rights violations related to detention.
Moreover, in November, French judges issued international arrest warrants for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and two other senior officials. These individuals are accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the use of chemical weapons in the 2013 Ghouta attack, which killed over 1,000 civilians.
Continued Displacement and Refugee Crisis
By the end of 2023, the Syrian conflict had displaced millions of people, with 5.6 million Syrians seeking refuge outside the country since the conflict began in 2011. Many refugees remained in precarious conditions in neighboring countries, while those who returned to Syria often faced arbitrary detention, mistreatment, or inadequate living conditions.
Within Syria, the situation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) remained dire. In northwest Syria alone, 4.4 million people, including 2.9 million IDPs, were entirely dependent on humanitarian aid. The earthquake in February worsened the already harsh living conditions, with many displaced families living in tents with minimal protection from extreme weather.
Russia’s use of its veto power in the United Nations Security Council to end the cross-border aid mechanism in July 2023 further complicated aid delivery to opposition-held areas. Although a temporary agreement was reached between the Syrian government and the UN to extend aid access until January 2024, humanitarian organizations continued to face challenges in reaching those most in need.
Conclusion
Syria in 2023 remained a country deeply entrenched in conflict, with continued violence, human rights abuses, and a worsening humanitarian crisis. All sides of the conflict, including the Syrian government, Turkish-backed forces, Kurdish groups, and foreign actors such as Israel, played a role in the ongoing suffering of civilians. Efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity saw some progress, but justice remained elusive for many victims. As the conflict stretched into its second.
Source: Amnesty International
Ibraheem Jabr is a seasoned legal professional with extensive expertise in international law, human rights, and commercial legal support. Based in Eindhoven, Netherlands,Ibraheem is the Founder and Legal Counsel at Legal Bridge, where they provide expert legal advice to EU-based government agencies and law firms navigating the complex legal landscape of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.