THE War in Syria it began in 2011, within the context of the Arab Spring when there were a series of protests against the government of Bashar al-Assad (1965).
The war hit the civilian population estimated at more than 24 million people in the first five years to the full, and it is not over.
Reasons for the War in Syria
The War in Syria was unleashed when a group of citizens was outraged by allegations of corruption revealed by WikiLeaks.
In March 2011 protests are held south of Derra in favor of democracy. The population revolted against the arrest of teenagers who wrote revolutionary words on the walls of a school.
In response to the protest, the government ordered security forces to open fire on protesters causing several deaths. The population rebelled against the repression and demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad.
The Middle East and North Africa region was rocked by a wave of anti-government protests that became known as Arab Spring.
In some cases, such as Libya, the country's top leader has been removed. However, the Syrian president responded with violence and used the army to crack down on the protesters.
In turn, the opposition begins to arm itself and fight the security forces. Brigades formed by rebels begin to control cities, the countryside and villages, supported by western countries like the United States, France, Canada, etc.
Both sides of the conflict are beginning to impose the food blockade on civilians. Access to water is also interrupted or limited. On several occasions, humanitarian forces are prevented from entering the conflict zone.
Also, the Islamic state it takes advantage of the country's fragility and sets out to conquer important cities in Syrian territory.
Survivors report that harsh punishments are imposed for those who do not accept their rules. Among them are: beatings, gang rapes, public executions and mutilations.
Belligerent Forces in the Syria War
It is necessary to understand that four distinct forces act in the conflict:
- Syrian Arab Republic – led by President Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian Armed Forces are trying to keep the president in power and face three distinct enemies. It is supported by Iraq, Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah and Russia.
- Free Syrian Army – is made up of several groups that rebelled against Bashar al-Assad after the start of the conflict in 2011. They receive support from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
- Democratic Union Party – formed by the Kurds, this armed group claims the autonomy of the Kurdish people inside Syria. In this way, Iraqi and Turkish Kurds became involved in this fight. Both the Free Syrian Army and the Kurds are supported by the United States, European Union, Australia, Canada, etc. However, President Barack Obama and his successor, Trump, refuse to intervene militarily in the region.
- Islamic state – its main objective is to declare a caliphate in the region. Despite having captured important cities, they were defeated by the Western powers.
Furthermore, the conflict is fueled by the sectarian difference of Sunnis and Shiites.
Syria War Summary
July 2011
Thousands of protesters returned to the streets and were repressed by the security forces of Bashar al-Assad.
July 2012
Fighting reaches Aleppo, the country's largest city, before the conflict.
The Sunni majority starts to demonstrate. The importance of the Islamic State jihadist group grows within the war.
June 2013
The UN announces that 90,000 people have died to date as a result of the conflicts.
August 2013
Hundreds die after a rocket dumps a chemical agent in the suburbs of Damascus. The government blames the rebels.
June 2014
The Islamic State takes control of part of Syria and Iraq and proclaims the creation of a caliphate, but attacks cease when the United States threatens to intervene in the conflict.
April to July 2014
The OPAQ (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) records the systematic use of chemical weapons.
September 2014
The US-led international coalition launches an air strike against Syria.
Russia initiates air strikes and is accused of killing Western-backed rebels and civilians.
Political alliances emerge, such as the National Coalition of Revolutionary Syria and the Opposition Forces.
August 2015
Islamic State fighters carry out mass killings, mostly by decapitation.
The Islamic State uses chemical weapons in the city of Marea.
March 2016
Al-Assad's forces reconquer the city of Palmira from the Islamic State. Throughout 2016, some meetings are held between the warring parties in order to achieve peace.
September 2016
Russian forces and Syrian army bomb Aleppo and reconquer. The battle for the city lasted four years and was an important strategic point, as it is the second most important city in the country.
January 2017
Negotiations that will be known as the "Astana Process" begin when several actors of the war try to negotiate a ceasefire. The Astana Agreement was ratified only by Russia, Iran and Turkey, not being ratified by the Syrian government or the opposition-in-exile.
April 2017
The Syrian army launches a sarin gas attack on the civilian population of the town of Khan Shaykhun on April 4, leaving a hundred dead. In response, for the first time, the United States is directly attacking the Syrian base d'Al-Chaayrate by launching missiles.
September 2017
The Syrian Democratic Forces and the Islamic State are fighting a fight for the oil-rich Deir ez-Zor zone. The battle is ongoing.
February 2018
On February 18, 2018, Bashar al-Assad's army began to violently attack the region of Ghouta, a stronghold that opposes him. It is estimated that more than 300 people were killed during the bombing.
On February 24, 2018, the UN decreed a humanitarian pause in order to bring a convoy into the conflict zone of Guta Oriental. Likewise, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a five-hour break.
The aim was to deliver medicine, clothing and food to civilians, about 400,000 who were between the two fighting armies. The ceasefire, however, was not respected by either side, and more deaths occurred.
April 2018
In the first week of April, a chemical weapons attack was carried out in the locality of Jan Sheijun. Although it is not known for sure whether it was the Russians or the army of Bashar al-Assad that used this weaponry, the attack provoked an immediate reaction from France, the United States and the United Kingdom.
In this way, the three countries united to fight back on April 13, bombing the Duma region. Russia is also doing massive disinformation work, spreading false news through social media and blogs in order to discredit Western aid.
June 2018
A group of 800 Syrians who were refugees in Lebanon decided to return to their country. A month later, another contingent of 900 people followed suit.
October 2019
US President Donald Trump announces the withdrawal of US troops from northern Turkey.
Immediately, the president of this country, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, begins the attack on the Kurds, alleging that they were an attempt against Turkish sovereignty.
Syria War Conflict Numbers
- 320,000 to 450,000 people have already died in the conflict.
- 1.5 million were injured.
- 6.7 million Syrian refugees, with Turkey being the main destination with 3.7 million. (Source: UNHCR/2019)
- Brazil, until 2018, had granted entry to 3,326 Syrians. (Source: Ministry of Justice and Public Security)
- Libya is home to 1.5 million Syrian refugees who make up 25% of its population.
- 6.5 million people were internally displaced.
- 1.2 million Syrians were forced from their homes in 2015 alone.
- Oil production was 385,000 barrels per day in 2010, but in 2017 it was 8,000 barrels/day.
- 60.2% of the territory is controlled by the Syrian Army. The rest of the territory is divided between the Islamic State, Kurds and the Syrian Democratic Forces. (Source: EFE Agency/2019)
- 70% of the population does not have access to safe drinking water.
- 2 million children are out of school.
- Before the war, the Syrian population was 24.5 million. Now it is estimated to be 17.9 million.
- Poverty affects 80% of the population, who do not have access to basic food.
- 15,000 soldiers from 80 nations are on the front lines of the conflict.
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