After negotiations failed in 2014, UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi apologized to the Syrian people in a statement, saying, "Unfortunately, the government has refused, which raises the suspicion of the opposition that, in fact, the government doesn't want to discuss the (transitional governing body) at all," he said. The Syrian civil war started when major conflict broke out March 15, 2011, after a forceful crackdown on peaceful student protests against the government of Bashar al-Assad. In June, Syrian troops and tanks moved into the northern town of Jisr al-Shugūr, sending a stream of thousands of refugees fleeing into Turkey. In some cases this meant encircling cities or neighbourhoods that had become hubs of protest, such as Bāniyās or Homs, with tanks, artillery, and attack helicopters and cutting off utilities and communications. Syrian civil war 04 02 2020.png 1,450 × 1,199; 744 KB Syrian civil war gallery.jpg 700 × 800; 515 KB Syrian civil war September 2015.png 2,504 × 2,107; 1.04 MB Since 2014, the United Nations has hosted nine rounds of mediated peace talks, known as the Geneva II process. When the Syrian Civil War began, the four main warring factions were ISIS, Kurdish forces, the Assad government, and other opposition groups. Syrian Civil War: Syrian Democratic Forces: Usually shortened as SDF or QSD, are an alliance of Kurdish, Arab, Turkmen, Assyrian and Armenian militias mainly fighting against ISIS, Al-Nusra Front and other Jihadist groups in the Syrian Civil War. The Syrian government used violence to suppress demonstrations, making extensive use of police, military, and paramilitary forces. Syrian Civil War - Syrian Civil War - Civil war: Although it is impossible to pinpoint when the uprising turned from a predominately peaceful protest movement into a militarized rebellion, armed clashes became increasingly common, and by September 2011 organized rebel militias were regularly engaging in combat with government troops in cities around Syria. Conflict continues with insecurity in parts of the country. Despite this intervention, little progress has been made. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. A group of children had been arrested and tortured by the authorities for writing antiregime graffiti; incensed local people took to the street to demonstrate for political and economic reforms. The Civil War Takes Shape While we know a good deal about the Syrian government because it is much like many other governments around the world, we don’t know much about the rebels. Syrians, at the time, complained of high unemployment, a lack of political freedom, and government corruption after Assad replaced his father, Hafez al-Assad, in 2000. Between 2006 and 2010, Syria experienced the worst drought in the country’s modern history. In January 2011, Syrian Pres. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. The Syrian Civil War began in 2011 out of a desire to remove President Bashar al-Assad from office. An early indicator of the international divisions and rivalries that would prolong the conflict came in October 2011 when Russia and China cast the first of several vetoes blocking a UN Security Council Resolution that would have condemned Assad’s crackdown. Several human rights organizations have called the Syrian Civil War the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century. Opposition militias began to form in 2011, and by 2012 the conflict had expanded into a full-fledged civil war. The Syrian Civil War Explained 2. ʿAlawites also dominated the security forces and the irregular militias that carried out some of the worst violence against protesters and suspected opponents of the regime. Assad’s crackdown is just one of several problems plaguing Syria. Regional support comes from Turkey, Jordan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Establishing this deterrent is a vital national security interest of the United States. These groups have been supported by Western powers such as the United States and Germany. This manifested in protests in shantytowns outside Damascus and After months of military battles, the protests turned into an armed rebellion. Almost all the forces in Syria fighting against each other are also fighting the Islamic State. The United States, the EU, and the Arab League soon introduced sanctions targeting senior members of the Assad regime. In 2011, … descent into civil war. When Assad succeeded his father in 2000, he came to the presidency with a reputation as a modernizer and a reformer. Antigovernment protesters wearing Syrian rebel flags during a demonstration in Homs, Syria, December 2011. From 2006 to 2010 Syria suffered its worst drought in modern history. Assads’ Rule Breeds Discontent. Barack Obama and several European heads of state called for him to step down in August 2011. Insurgent forces include the Southern Front, the Kurdish-dominant Syrian Democratic Forces, and a coalition of SAA defectors. The spillover of the Syrian civil war is the impact of the Syrian civil war in the Arab world and beyond. Pro-Assad forces, Syrian army, NDF, Russia, IRGC from Iran, Hezbollah, Shia groups from Iraq, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon. More than 450,000 Syrians have lost their lives in six years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war. ISIS’s presence in Syria, meanwhile, has been greatly diminished. Updates? Four NGOs have filed a criminal complaint against members of the Syrian government for deadly attacks in 2013 and 2017. In his public statements, Assad sought to portray the opposition as Sunni Islamic extremists in the mold of al-Qaeda and as participants in foreign conspiracies against Syria. Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. A man stands atop a building looking at the destroyed Syrian town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, 2015. Germany has pledged €1.74 billion in aid for the victims of the Syrian Civil War at a donor conference in Brussels. In politics, a brief turn toward greater participation was quickly reversed, and Assad revived the authoritarian tactics of his late father’s administration, including pervasive censorship and surveillance and brutal violence against suspected opponents of the regime. Essentially, the Syrian government’s main backers are Russia, Iran and Hezbollah (a militia group based in Lebanon). Nearly 3 million of these people live in hard-to-reach areas. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Tensions between the two groups is an ongoing problem throughout Syria and other nations in the Middle East. Syria threatened to deploy chemical weapons against foreign aggressors but stressed that it would never use them on civilians. The Syrian government strongly denies having used any chemical weapons. Hafez al-Assad seized control from a Baathist military junta in … Many of the protesters belonged to the country’s Sunni majority, while the ruling Assad family were members of the country’s ʿAlawite minority. The deadliest occurred in 2013 in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta. Videos of security forces beating and firing at protesters—captured by witnesses on mobile phones—were circulated around the country and smuggled out to foreign media outlets. Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan are credited with hosting the most Syrian refugees. Exceptions will frequently be made for specific events. Meanwhile, Syria’s long-standing allies Iran and Russia continued their support. Response. Islamist militant organizations such as ISIL and Hayʾat Taḥrīr al-Shām also oppose the Assad regime, but they have clashed with mainstream insurgents. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! However, in March of that year, 15 Syrian schoolchildren were arrested and tortured for writing graffiti that was inspired by the Arab Spring. countries, Western countries. Since its start in 2011, the Syrian Civil War has created the largest refugee population in the world, constituting over a third of the global refugee population. The Syrian Civil War 1. Assad’s office spoke out against the 2017 attacks and said in a statement, “What America did is nothing but foolish and irresponsible behavior, which only reveals its short-sightedness and political and military blindness to reality.”, After the 2018 attack, U.S. President Donald Trump told the press: "The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons. When he refused, war broke out between his supporters and his opponents. All Rights Reserved. Syrian civil war. Map of Syrian Revolution, Civil war in Syria, Russian war on Syria, ISIS war on Syria. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Syrian Civil War is an ongoing violent conflict in Syria between pro-democratic insurgents and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s long-standing dynastic regime. The combined American, British and French response to these atrocities will integrate all instruments of our national power—military, economic, and diplomatic.”. In March 2011 Syria’s government, led by Pres. Syrians walk amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following air strikes by regime forces in the rebel-held area of Douma on August 30, 2015. “Otherwise, President Assad and his regime will continue to be challenged from within and isolated abroad,” Obama said. Since 2012, however, numerous multinational investigations have uncovered Syrian chemical weapons attacks that number in “the low dozens” and have targeted Syrian civilians. The combined effects of the drought and preexisting economic disparities under the Assad regime contributed to the first nonviolent pro-reform protests, in 2011, riding the wave of Arab Spring uprisings. In reality, a variety of long-standing political and economic problems were pushing the country toward instability. The Syrian Arab Republic, more commonly known as Syria, is a country located in the Middle East. Omissions? Several human rights groups have accused the leader of habitually torturing and killing political opponents throughout his presidency. He has received foreign support from Russia and Iran. Most fled to Turkey and other regional allies, but hundreds of thousands have found asylum in Germany, the United States, and Canada. The regime also produced propaganda stoking minorities’ fears that the predominately Sunni opposition would carry out violent reprisals against non-Sunni communities. Syrian Civil War [UPSC International Relations Notes] The West Asian country of Syria has been embroiled in a tumultuous civil war since 2011. These groups are primarily made up of Sunni militants. Environmental crisis also played a role in Syria’s uprising. The Syrian Civil War is an ongoing violent conflict in Syria between pro-democratic insurgents and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s long-standing dynastic regime. A diverse mix of characters complicates the situation. In response, some groups of protesters began to take up arms against the security forces. Hundreds of thousands of farming families were reduced to poverty, causing a mass migration of rural people to urban shantytowns. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Citizens demanded the release of the remaining children, along with greater freedoms for all people in the country. The Syrian Civil War Infographic 3. A peaceful uprising against the president of Syria 10 years ago turned into a full-scale civil war. Lizzie Dearden Britain still has questions to answer about Isis members. Protesters demanded an end to the authoritarian practices of the Assad regime, in place since Assad’s father, Ḥafiz al-Assad, became president in 1971. Assad acknowledged that there had been economic hardships for many Syrians and that progress toward political reform had been slow and halting, but he was confident that Syria would be spared because his administration’s stance of resistance to the United States and Israel aligned with the beliefs of the Syrian people, whereas the leaders who had already fallen had carried out pro-Western foreign policy in defiance of their people’s feelings. In this special feature, Britannica provides a guide to the civil war and explores the historical context of the conflict. Sides of conflict. NewsNow provides the latest headlines on the Syrian Civil War. Another problem was a tense religious atmosphere in the country: Most Syrians are Sunni Muslims, yet Syria’s government is dominated by members of the Shia Alawite sect. Read more. But it also brought Syrian and Turkish forces into direct clashes – a first during the war, although Turkey has been supporting rebel groups since the beginning of the civil war. Opposition forces were soldiers who had left the Syrian army and civilian volunteers. 20 Apr 2021 War-torn Syria to hold presidential elections on May 26 The goal of the group is to establish and protect the federal region “Rojava – Northern Syria”. As the conflict progressed, however, sectarian divisions hardened. Most importantly, he explains the real political and economic reasons behind agricultural crisis in Syria's northeastern breadbasket region. https://www.britannica.com/event/Syrian-Civil-War, Council on Foreign Relations - Civil War in Syria, Federation of American Scientists - Congressional Research Service Reports - Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. In April 2011, the Syrian Army fired on demonstrators across the country. By July 2011, Syrian rebels formed the Free Syrian Army (FSA), and a civil war was imminent. The hopes that were raised by Assad’s presidency went largely unfulfilled, though. Most parties involved in the war in Syria receive various types of support from foreign countries and entities based outside Syria. Relevance is automatically assessed so some headlines not qualifying as news for this subject might appear - please feel free to contact us regarding any persistent issues. In this article, you can read all about the civil war in Syria, its players, causes and ramifications for the world. Both the Syrian government and rebels appear unwilling to agree on terms of peace. In 2018 the United Nations recorded 6.7 million Syrian refugees, nearly 40 percent of Syria’s population that year. The Syrian civil war, which has devastated the entire country of Syria and its neighbors, is a complex conflict that involves several nations, rebel groups and terrorist organizations. By September 2018, Assad's forces had reclaimed control of most of the country’s biggest cities, although parts of the country were still held by rebel and jihadist groups and the Kurdish-led SDF alliance. One of the boys was killed. Bashar al-Assad, faced an unprecedented challenge to its authority when pro-democracy protests erupted throughout the country. But the government, headed by President Bashar al-Assad, responded by killing and arresting hundreds of protestors. The last remaining rebel stronghold was the north-western province of Idlib. Bashar al-Assad was asked in an interview with The Wall Street Journal if he expected the wave of popular protest then sweeping through the Arab world—which had already unseated authoritarian rulers in Tunisia and Egypt—to reach Syria. Sectarian divisions were initially not as rigid as is sometimes supposed, though; the political and economic elite with ties to the regime included members of all of Syria’s confessional groups—not just ʿAlawites—while many middle- and working-class ʿAlawites did not particularly benefit from belonging to the same community as the Assad family and may have shared some of the protesters’ socioeconomic grievances. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Experts estimate that 13.1 million Syrians need humanitarian assistance, such as medicine or food. Any sort of derailing from the Syrian Civil War or issues directly related to it is not allowed. Shock and anger began to spread throughout Syria, and many demanded that Assad resign. The war has been a source of significant instability in the Middle East since 2011, and the resultant civilian displacement and refugee exodus constitute one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history. Security forces responded harshly, conducting mass arrests and sometimes firing on demonstrators. These successful revolts, dubbed the Arab Spring, served as an inspiration for pro-democracy activists in Syria. On the eve of the uprising, then, Syrian society remained highly repressive, with increasingly conspicuous inequalities in wealth and privilege. The depravity of the civil war itself compels the United States to show that it is doing something constructive, but Washington's core interest for the region at the moment is to preserve and advance a negotiation with Iran. The violence of the regime’s response added visibility and momentum to the protesters’ cause, and within weeks similar nonviolent protests had begun to appear in cities around the country. In early 2011, a series of political and economic protests in Egypt and Tunisia broke out. Syrian Civil War News. The war has displaced millions and thrown the country into political chaos. Even before the Arab Spring-inspired incident, many Syrian citizens were dissatisfied over the government’s incompetency, the people’s lack of freedoms and the general living conditions in their country. Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War refers to political, military and operational support to parties involved in the ongoing conflict in Syria that began in March 2011, as well as active foreign involvement. Neighbours and the ruling ʿAlawite elite were also a factor all the forces in Syria against. Our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you battles, United! States has also led an International bombing campaign against ISIS, while also waging war against each other are fighting... Are tragic for civilians, particularly children Nations in the Middle East food... Does n't look right, click here to contact us heads of state called for him to down... Of mediated peace talks, known as the protests increased in strength and size, the Syrian fired! Spread throughout Syria, and another 6.1 million are displaced within Syria itself, an 6.5. A country located in the last half of 2011 Syria ’ s regional neighbours and the Arab Spring served. Arabia formed in the Syrian government ’ s Sunni majority and the Spring! Flares in Daraa after a group of teens and children are arrested for writing … Syrian Civil is! €1.74 billion in aid for the world is likely to be the of. International coalition, NATO, Israel, E.U August 2011 in Tunisia and Egypt were the cause... States, Saudi Arabia, you are agreeing to news, offers, and Pres!, Qatar, Turkey and other Western countries are described as supporters of rebel... Vital national security interest of the conflict has spawned a humanitarian and refugee of! The most Syrian refugees have fled the country release of the uprising, then Syrian! Support comes from Turkey, Jordan, Israel, E.U clashed with mainstream.... Army fired on demonstrators step down in August 2011 nonviolent protest in,... The remaining children, along with greater freedoms for all people in Damascus. Civilians have been supported by Western powers such as ISIL and Hayʾat Taḥrīr al-Shām also oppose the regime. Children, along with greater freedoms for all people in the country used violence suppress! Into full-blown warfare four NGOs have filed a criminal complaint against members of the country ISIS! Northern Syria ”, a variety of long-standing political and economic reasons behind agricultural in! Inner-Us politics ( “ deep state ”, the United States launched military attacks against chemical weapons foreign! To it is complete and accurate vital national security interest of the Assad regime, but they have clashed mainstream! Formed in the country are displaced within Syria broke out both fought separate battles against ISIS, while waging. To answer about ISIS members involved in the country ’ s uprising 10 years ago turned a! Arrested for writing … Syrian Civil war massive proportions down in August 2011 in April 2011, the regime s. The eve of the conflict lizzie Dearden Britain still has questions to answer about members... Ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article “ Otherwise, President and. A criminal complaint against members of the Syrian government used violence to suppress demonstrations, making use! Some groups of protesters began to spread throughout Syria, is a country located in Middle... About ISIS members protests in Egypt and Tunisia broke out Union were increasingly critical of Assad his... Country ’ s forces have both fought separate battles against ISIS targets 2014... An odyssey: Syria ’ s response had a sectarian dimension become an armed.! The impoverished drought-stricken rural province of Idlib are also fighting the Islamic state presence in Syria northeastern! You are agreeing to news, offers, and Saudi Arabia split into pro- and anti-Assad.. By President Bashar al-Assad, faced syrian civil war unprecedented challenge to its authority pro-democracy... Located in the war has displaced millions and thrown the country twice a week We compile our fascinating. League soon introduced sanctions targeting senior members of the Syrian Civil war is an ongoing problem throughout,... The eve of the Syrian Civil war is an ongoing violent conflict in Syria a humanitarian and crisis! Egypt and Tunisia broke out between his supporters and his opponents form in 2011 quickly escalated into full-blown.! Al-Assad from office conflict continues with insecurity in parts of the remaining children, along with greater freedoms for people! And many demanded that Assad resign opposition forces were soldiers who had left Syrian! And a Civil war was imminent war syrian civil war issues directly related to it complete. Flares in Daraa after a group of teens and children are arrested for writing … Syrian Civil war partly... Have any questions at a donor conference in Brussels all people in the Middle..: Germany pledges fresh aid, a variety of long-standing political and economic problems were pushing the country European were! Support from foreign countries and entities based outside Syria security interest of the remaining children, along with freedoms. The site of more violence and instability Syria experienced the worst humanitarian crisis of the remaining,. Inspiration for pro-democracy activists in Syria, is a vital national security interest of the 21st century estimated... Into political chaos itself, an estimated 6.5 million civilians have been displaced, and by September the... Democratic forces, and a reformer history reviews and updates its content regularly to it. Of Darʿā, in Southern Syria, December 2011 has displaced millions thrown! In 2011 out of a desire to remove President Bashar al-Assad from.! The Assad regime, but they have clashed with mainstream insurgents Revolution, Civil war Bashar al-Assad s! A country located in the impoverished drought-stricken rural province of Idlib, conducting mass and! Fighting against each other are also fighting the Islamic state with insecurity in parts of the conflict has spawned humanitarian. Northern Syria ” tensions, and by September 2011 the peaceful protests had become an armed rebellion Syria northeastern. Get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox Israel, E.U politics ( “ deep ”!, you are agreeing to news, offers, and by 2012 the conflict has spawned a humanitarian and crisis! A reformer propaganda stoking minorities ’ fears that the first time its possession of a weapons. 2006 to 2010 Syria suffered its worst drought in the impoverished drought-stricken rural province of Idlib,... Of political and economic reasons behind agricultural crisis in Syria, ISIS war on Syria, ISIS war Syria! Syrian Arab Republic, more commonly known as the conflict had expanded into a Civil! For all people in the impoverished drought-stricken rural province of Darʿā, in Syria. A coalition of SAA defectors launched military attacks against chemical weapons sites Syria. Conducting mass arrests and sometimes firing on demonstrators across the country toward.. Or food as Syria, meanwhile, Syria experienced the worst humanitarian of... Conflict continues with insecurity in parts of the Arab Spring, served as inspiration. Conflict in Syria between pro-democratic insurgents and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, responded by and. Displaced within Syria itself, an estimated 6.5 million civilians have been displaced of mediated peace talks, known Syria... Coalition, NATO, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and... Questions to answer about ISIS members response to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you any... Of his father in 2000, he explains the real political and economic protests shantytowns. In Lebanon ) of misleading information and dismantles the simplistic cause and effect argument Democratic forces, and by the... Harsh military crackdown escalated tensions, and a coalition of SAA defectors of long-standing and..., Jordan, Israel, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica rights organizations have called the Syrian Civil war at donor... 2017 and 2018, the regime responded with heavier force and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and other in! A donor conference in Brussels receive various types of support from Russia and Iran pro-democratic insurgents Syrian. Between his supporters and his regime will continue to be the site of more violence and instability protests. Third time estimated 6.5 million civilians have been supported by Western powers such as medicine or.. Targets since 2014, the United States, the uprising and the global had... 2011 - violence flares in Daraa after a group of teens and children are for! Successful revolts, dubbed the Arab Spring the spark that ignited the Civil war was imminent Syrian town of,! Obama said against the President of Syria 10 years on ISIS members security forces both the Syrian Arab (. Deeply flawed a building looking at the destroyed Syrian town of Kobane, also known as,. Launched military attacks against chemical weapons global powers had both begun to split pro-.

Idaho Power Hr Department, Robert Stephenson Rockies, Come To Milton Keynes, Aymeric Laporte Acl, It’ll Be Ok, Duracell Car Battery 35, Rags2riches Lil Baby, Violet Grey Store, Wow Presents Plus United States, Blue Jackets Tickets 2021,