Where Is War

Is there a war in Syria?

Yes. UCDP lists 9 active armed conflicts with fighting recorded in Syria.

1 of them at war level (1,000+ deaths in a year). Largest: Iran - Israel, United States of America (mainly in Iran), 3,859 deaths in Jan–Sep 2026 (preliminary).

Updated 30 October 2026 · UCDP data through 30 September 2026 · View on map →

Deaths recorded in Syria in 2025

735in state-based fighting
729in fighting between armed groups
1,985in attacks on civilians (one-sided violence)

UCDP GED Global 26.1: best estimates for events located in Syria (as UCDP places them), by type of violence. The three are shown separately, as UCDP counts them, and are not added together here.

The conflicts

Each conflict as UCDP defines it: a dispute with at least 25 battle-related deaths in a year. Figures are UCDP best estimates; the newest months are preliminary and can change. UCDP does not record who started each clash.

War levelState-based conflict

Iran - Israel, United States of America

–2025: not in the datasetbelow 25 deaths or no data
3,859deaths in Jan–Sep 2026preliminary · UCDP Candidate Events Dataset 26.01.26.09

Who is fighting: Government of Iran vs Government of Israel, Government of United States of America

1989: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1990: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1991: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1992: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1993: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1994: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1995: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1996: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1997: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1998: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1999: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2000: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2001: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2002: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2003: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2004: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2005: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2006: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2007: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2008: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2009: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2010: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2011: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2012: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2013: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2014: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2015: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2016: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2017: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2018: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2019: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2020: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2021: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2022: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2023: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2024: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2025: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2026: 3,859 (Jan–Sep 2026, preliminary)
1989highest: 3,8592026*

* Jan–Sep 2026, preliminary (hatched). Grey: year not in the dataset (UCDP lists a conflict-year only with at least 25 deaths).

Latest recorded fighting: September 2026

Conflict-wide figures (not only Syria). Also recorded in: Iran, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Sri Lanka.

Armed conflictState-based conflict · UCDP start year 1966

Syria: Government

500deaths in 2025UCDP Battle-Related Deaths Dataset 26.1 (conflict level)
287,894total 2011–2025sum of the UCDP yearly figures below (15 years listed)

Who is fighting: Government of Syria vs Military Council for the Liberation of Syria

1989: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1990: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1991: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1992: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1993: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1994: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1995: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1996: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1997: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1998: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)1999: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2000: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2001: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2002: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2003: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2004: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2005: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2006: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2007: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2008: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2009: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2010: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2011: 1,2032012: 50,4442013: 70,5162014: 57,9572015: 39,7152016: 32,5952017: 12,2062018: 8,6902019: 6,8562020: 3,5132021: 6762022: 5632023: 1,0012024: 1,4592025: 500
1989highest: 70,5162025

Grey: year not in the dataset (UCDP lists a conflict-year only with at least 25 deaths).

Latest recorded fighting: March 2025

Figures by year
YearDeaths (best estimate)
2025500
20241,459
20231,001
2022563
2021676
20203,513
20196,856
20188,690
201712,206
201632,595
201539,715
201457,957
201370,516
201250,444
20111,203
Armed conflictNon-state conflict (between armed groups) · UCDP start year 2018

SNA - SDF

345deaths in 2025UCDP Non-State Conflict Dataset 26.1
3,306total 2019–2025sum of the UCDP yearly figures below (7 years listed)

Who is fighting: SNA vs SDF

2018: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2019: 1,2902020: 4822021: 1892022: 1632023: 2582024: 5792025: 345
2018highest: 1,2902025

Grey: year not in the dataset (UCDP lists a conflict-year only with at least 25 deaths).

Latest recorded fighting: January 2025

Figures by year
YearDeaths (best estimate)
2025345
2024579
2023258
2022163
2021189
2020482
20191,290
Armed conflictNon-state conflict (between armed groups) · UCDP start year 2025

Southern Tribes Gathering, Syrian Council of Tribes and Clans - Suwayda Military Council

194deaths in 2025UCDP Non-State Conflict Dataset 26.1

Who is fighting: Southern Tribes Gathering, Syrian Council of Tribes and Clans vs Suwayda Military Council

2025: 194
2025highest: 1942025

Grey: year not in the dataset (UCDP lists a conflict-year only with at least 25 deaths).

Latest recorded fighting: July 2025

Figures by year
YearDeaths (best estimate)
2025194
Armed conflictState-based conflict · UCDP start year 2015

Syria: Government/Rojava Kurdistan

171deaths in 2025UCDP Battle-Related Deaths Dataset 26.1 (conflict level)
74deaths in Jan–Sep 2026preliminary · UCDP Candidate Events Dataset 26.01.26.09
476total 2016–2025sum of the UCDP yearly figures below (5 years listed)

Who is fighting: Government of Syria vs SDF

2015: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2016: 1522017: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2018: 352019: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2020: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2021: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2022: not in the dataset (below 25 deaths or no data)2023: 402024: 782025: 1712026: 74 (Jan–Sep 2026, preliminary)
2015highest: 1712026*

* Jan–Sep 2026, preliminary (hatched). Grey: year not in the dataset (UCDP lists a conflict-year only with at least 25 deaths).

Latest recorded fighting: January 2026

Figures by year
YearDeaths (best estimate)
Jan–Sep 2026 preliminary74
2025171
202478
202340
201835
2016152

4 more conflicts in Syria

Conflict (UCDP)2025Jan–Sep 2026
preliminary
IS - SDF
IS vs SDF
115–Map
Southern Tribes Gathering - Suwayda Military Council
Southern Tribes Gathering vs Suwayda Military Council
75–Map
Israel - Syria
Government of Israel vs Government of Syria
351Map
Syria: Islamic State
Government of Syria vs IS
2936Map

Military personnel

269,000own armed forces (2020)World Bank / IISS · active + paramilitary

Foreign military personnel in Syria

UNDOF Golan955

whole mission · 31 Jul 2026 · UN DPO

Area of operations in the Golan; whole-mission figure, not split by country.

Nepal 247Uruguay 213India 175
All 13 countries
Nepal 247Uruguay 213India 175Fiji 149Kazakhstan 142Ghana 12Ireland 4Australia 3Bhutan 3Czechia 3Zambia 2Argentina 1South Korea 1
UNTSO Middle East154

whole mission · 31 Jul 2026 · UN DPO

Observers across Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria; whole-mission figure, not split by country.

Finland 15Switzerland 14Australia 13
All 30 countries
Finland 15Switzerland 14Australia 13Ireland 12Netherlands 12Norway 12Denmark 9New Zealand 8China 7Canada 5Bhutan 4Nepal 4Poland 4Russia 4Chile 3Serbia 3Argentina 2Austria 2Estonia 2Fiji 2India 2Kazakhstan 2Latvia 2Slovakia 2Slovenia 2Sweden 2USA 2Belgium 1Sierra Leone 1Zambia 1

Other countries may have forces here; only official, reusable figures are shown.

Other countries with active armed conflicts in Middle East

BahrainIranIraqIsraelJordanKuwaitLebanonOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaSri LankaTurkeyUnited Arab EmiratesYemen

All countries →

Sources and licences