ICC Note: More than 55,000 were killed in Syria during 2015, the fifth year of the conflict. The grim figure comes as Christmas celebrations were rocked in the NE city Qamishli by three bombs detonated in Christian restaurants, killing at least 13 Christians among the 17 dead and dozens more wounded. 

12/31/2015 Syria (Telegraph) More than 55,000 people were killed in Syria during 2015, a leading casualty monitor said on Thursday, as Isil claimed responsibility for twin bombings in a Christian neighbourhood in north Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it had documented 55,219 deaths during 2015, the fifth year of Syria’s conflict, including more than 2,500 children.

The bitter war has claimed the lives of more than 260,000 people, displacing more than half the country’s pre-war population and forcing the flight of more than 4 million refugees.

The regime of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, remains the largest killer, followed by the militants of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

On Thursday, Isil claimed responsibility for twin bombings in the predominantly Kurdish city of Qamishli the previous night, carpeting the floors of two restaurants with blood and glass.