NGO: More than 100,000 killed in Syria since uprising began

Growing death toll in Syrian civil war as violence spreads throughout country, figures include civilians, rebel fighters, Syrian army, Hezbollah militia men; Worldwide, officials worry about regional destabilization

AFP|Published: 06.26.13 , 12:22

More than 100,000 people have been killed in Syria since the beginning of the country's uprising in March 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog said in a new toll on Wednesday.

The toll was now 100,191 people, with at least 36,661 civilians killed, along with 25,000 regime troops and 18,072 rebel fighters, according to the Observatory. The remainder comprises pro-regime militiamen, unidentified victims and Hezbollah fighters.

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The group, which relies on a network of activists, doctors and lawyers on the ground throughout Syria, said 18,072 rebel fighters had been killed.

On the regime side, the group reported the deaths of at least 25,407 army soldiers, 17,311 pro-regime militia and 169 members of the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, which has dispatched fighters to battle alongside the Syrian army.

The group counted another 2,571 unidentified people killed in the fighting throughout the war-torn country up until June 24.

The figures are a testament to the levels of violence wracking the country, which has been ravaged by a civil war that began with peaceful demonstrations calling for regime change.

The Syrian government responded with force to the demonstrations, starting a bloody spiral into violence that has left no part of the country untouched and raised concerns about regional destabilization.