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Developments in December following the regime's takeover (key events, findings, challenges, and needs identification related to changes in control over the regime and key territories in the context of the 2024 Syria conflict).
This report has been prepared for informational purposes by IBC Programs Director Nalan Üker, based on information gathered from relevant regional clusters and humanitarian situation reports.
The first section contains information obtained from regional relief clusters covering the period from December 10 to 15, 2024, following developments across the country. The second section includes field observations from IBC Syria field teams in the northern regions of Syria, covering the provinces of Azaz, Tel Rifat, and Aleppo.
On 10 December, two children were killed by a landmine explosion on the outskirts of a villagein southern Idleb, while two other siblings were injured. Between 8 and 9 December, six civilians, including one child, were killed in three separate landmine explosions in Hama and western Aleppo, while three other civilians were injured.
Since 11 December, the situation has stabilized in several areas of Syria, though insecurity remains a major concern in regions such as Menbij in Aleppo governorate and northeast Syria. On 11 December, changes in lines of control were reported along the western bank of the Euphrates River in Deir-ez-Zor, while hostilities on the eastern bank continued, resulting in an unverified number of casualties.
Between the 11 – 14 December, north-west Syria has not experienced any hostile incidents. However, there has been an increasing numberof reports of families being affected by explosive remnantsof war, as people continue to move.
In Damascus and its surrounding areas, rubble obstructing movement has been cleared, and curfews have beenlifted, including in Tartous and Lattakia. Publicservices have been restored in many areas,except for solid waste management. Many markets have reopened, with noticeable pricereductions, though several commodities remain unavailable due to disrupted supply chains.
In north-east Syria, insecurity persists, particularly in Al-Hasakeh and Ar-Raqqa governorates. A curfew has been imposed in most areas on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. While the road between Qamishli city and Ar-Raqqa governorate has reopened for civilian traffic, airports remain closed. The cross-border operation from Türkiye is proceeding without any obstacles.
On 12 December 2024, the Deputy Heads of OCHA Syria and OCHA Türkiye met at OCHA's sub-office in Aleppo and decided to enhance the response capacityin the region by including Aleppo Governorate in the cross-border operation, in collaboration with partners involved in the intervention.