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Protests
Protests are held in different parts of the country, inspired by other popular uprisings across the Arab world. The military cracks down on protesters in Damascus, Banias and Deraa, cradle of the uprising where 100 people are reportedly killed on the 23rd. -
Sanctions begins
The US imposes sanctions on Assad and senior Syrian officials for human rights abuses.While the European Union implements an arms embargo alongside an asset freeze and travel ban on senior officials. -
The Free Syrian Army is created
Military defectors announce the formation of the Free Syrian Arm (FSA) headed by Riad Al-Asaad, a former Syrian army colonel. -
Formation of the Syrian National Council
The Syrian National Council is formed in Istanbul, a coalition of groups in and outside the country opposed to Assad. -
The al-Nusra front is created
Jabhat al-Nusra announces its formation as Syria's official al-Qaeda affiliate. The group's mainly local fighters prove to be effective against the regime and an initially ally with more moderate groups. -
The National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces is formed
Is formed after a meeting in Qatar, although Islamist factions, including Jebhat al-Nusra, say it does not represent them. -
Mass Movements
The UN says more than a million Syrians are now refugees. the US and UK say they will provide non-military aid to armed opposition groups and push to lift the EU arms embargo for rebels -
Islamic State appeared
Foreign jihadis grow in number and influence with the appearance of the Islamic State. Formerly the Islamic State of Iraq, its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, announces in an audio message that Jabhat al-Nusra was an extension of his group and would be merged with it. Al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammad al-Joulani spurns their advances. -
More than 100.00 deaths.
The UN reports that the death toll has now exceeded 100,000. Israeli Defense Forces Military Intelligence Director Aviv Kochavi says Syria has become a "center of global jihad". -
Peace talks
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon heads the first round of Geneva peace talks, attended by both the Syrian government and National Coalition. No progress is made.The UN says that it has temporarily stopped reporting death tolls in the conflict due to its inability to verify information -
Barril bombs
A HRW report concludes, based on witness interviews as well as video and picture analysis, that Assad's forces have used bombs containing chlorine gas in attacks on rebel-held areas. HRW noted that fragments of chlorine canisters found at the scene indicated that they had been dropped from considerable heights, strongly suggesting that Syrian government forces dropped crude "barrel bombs" containing chlorine from helicopters. -
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
IS announces a self-declared caliphate with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi at its head in the territory it controls between Aleppo and eastern Iraq . -
Human right abuses
The UN says that IS has committed human rights abuses and atrocities in Syria. The group seizes al-Tabqa air base, the last government stronghold in Raqaa, after fierce fighting. It subsequently massacres over 100 government prisoners. -
Air strikes and ISIS atack on Kobani.
Forces from the United States and five Arab countries launch combined air strikes against IS in Syria.
IS launch huge assault on Kurdish border enclave of Kobani. The town's defense becomes a symbol of the fight against the group and eventually involves the FSA, coalition airstrikes and peshmerga fighters from Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government. -
Deafeat of ISIS
Kurdish forces say they have pushed IS out of Kobani. -
Current situatuation in Syria
