The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring protests, has been a long and brutal conflict that has had devastating consequences for the country and its people. Initially sparked by mass protests against the government of Bashar al-Assad, the situation quickly escalated into a full-blown civil war by 2012, with armed opposition groups gaining momentum and receiving support from international allies.
The war saw various atrocities committed by both sides, including the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in 2013, which led to international calls for military intervention. However, a deal was struck between the US, Russia, and Syria to place Syria’s chemical weapons under international control, thereby averting military action.
As the conflict dragged on, Assad’s hold on power grew stronger, with the support of allies like Russia. By 2017, Assad had regained control of most major cities, with rebel forces confined to pockets of territory. In 2018, his army advanced in Idlib, where Turkish forces had intervened to protect rebel-held areas.
Despite the apparent end of the conflict, Assad’s rebuilding efforts have been controversial, with measures like Law 10 allowing the government to seize property from displaced Syrians for redistribution to loyalists. The devastating toll of the war has left many Syrians displaced or traumatized, with the country facing a long road to recovery and reconciliation.
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