774 civilians killed last month in Syria: Rights group

By Adham Kako

ANKARA

At least 774 civilians were killed in January in armed clashes or attacks by Russia or the Assad regime, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said in a monthly report released on Tuesday.

According to the U.K.-based watchdog, most of last month’s civilian casualties were attributable to attacks by the Assad regime or its ally Russia.

At least 550 civilians, including 116 children and 87 women, were killed in attacks carried out by Russia or the regime during the first month of 2018.

Almost 100 other civilians were killed during the same period by terrorist groups -- including Daesh and the PYD/PKK -- or by U.S.-led coalition raids, according to the report.

Another four civilians were killed in clashes between regime forces and armed opposition groups, the same report states.

The report also urges the international community to step up pressure on the PYD/PKK terrorist group to halt rights abuses against local residents in parts of northern Syria currently under its control.

According to the SNHR’s 2017 annual report, a total of 10,204 Syrian civilians were killed last year, mostly due to attacks by the Assad regime.