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Syrian Conflict Began
This conflict began on March 15, 2011 when demonstrations began in the cities of Daraa and Damascus.They were led by protesters in the attempt of removing the president, Bashar al-Assad from office. These protests were part of a larger movement that stretched across the Middle East called the Arab Spring in which protests were held against the current governments. The Syrian opposers want to remove the Ba'ath Party rule which has been in power since the 1960s. -
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Syrian Civil War
This conflict has not ended and therefore has not been resolved. -
First Reports of Military Action Towards Protesters
Newspaper Article about Syria
On March 22, only a week after protests began, the Syrian president ordered the military to take action against the opposers. In the next three months, the military would shoot, kill, or arrest many of the rebels. This led to the forming of the Free Syrian Army or FSA. -
FSA Forms
In response to the Syrian governments forceful approach to the protests, the FSA was formed. It is made up of rebels and former members of the Syrian government. When it was established, the FSA was one of the largest opposition forces. They remained without central leadership until the end of 2012, and they tend to use less destructive weapons such as assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades. -
President Obama Asks Assad to Step Down
Seeing the problems forming in Syria, President Obama, for the first time, asks Assad to step down. Also, Obama freezes all assets happening in the Syrian Government as a cause from U.S jurisdiction. -
Battle of Rastan 2011
Battle of Rastan Video and News Article
In Syria, this battle was the longest and most intense of any of the battles between the Syrian Army and the FSA until this point. Over 100 people were killed and 3,000 were arrested. The Syrian army took over Rastan after 4 days of fighting. However, within Rastan armed conflict continued to occur. -
Syrian President Began Using Large-Scale Weapons
By January, Assad had begun using large-scale weapons against the opposition. By this time, almost all conflict became armed as opposed to protests. The picture shows riot police from a battle in January of 2012. -
Closing of U.S Embassy in Damascus
As more destructive weapons are used on a larger scale, Obama closes the U.S. Embassy in Damascus. He also takes out all of the American diplomats because the area is not safe. -
U.N. Attempts to Come In
The increasing violence causes the UN to delay bringing in their observers in Syria. The observers would not attempt to come back to Syria for another month. -
Red Cross Announces Civil War in Syria
The International Committee of the Red Cross announced that the conflict in Syria had become a civil war after battles spread nation-wide. The picture shows UN members observing some of the damage caused by Syrian troops in a school. -
Israeli Military Fire on Syrian Artillery Units
During the ongoing internal war between the government and the opposition, Syria was also in conflict with Israel. After the Syrians had a mortar shell hit an Israeli post on the Golan Heights, Israeli tanks destroy a Syrian mobile artillery unit. -
Arms Embargo Act is Lifted
This event marked one of the first instances where the United States began to get involved in the Syrian conflict. After the rebels took control of almost all of Raqqa, the Syrian government bombed some of Raqqa to try and take Raqqa back. After this bombing, the U.S. and Britain decide to give non-millitary aid to the rebels. Britain and France proposed lifting the European Union Arms Embargo Act, which allowed the trade of weapons to the Syrian rebels. -
Ongoing Conflict Between Syria and Israel
As the Syrian government battles the opposing rebels, they continue to be in conflict with Israel. The Syrians and Isaelis disagree about the recent issue at Golan Heights. The Israelis said that there was a Syrian patrol group in the Golan Heights, and the Syrians say that a jeep manned by Israeli troops went into Syrian territory and was destroyed. -
Death Toll Climbs to Near 100,000
News Article: Death toll may have risen since chemical weapons have been used.
The same day that the U.S. announces the use of chemical weaponry, the UN sends out an estimated 90,000 casualties since the beginning of the war. Other sources say that the toll may be closer to 100,000. -
Chemical Weapon Use is Announced by U.S.
The conflict escalates when the U.S. announces that chemical weapons have been used by the Syrian government against the opposition. Whether or not the U.S. or other nations will respond, is still unknown. -
Assassination of a Top Commander of the FSA
FSA Rebel Killed in Syria
As the tension increases, a civil war is forming within a civil war between Moderates and Islamists. Abu Basir Al Ladkani, a top commander of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), was assassinated on July 13, 2013. The assassination was carried out by al Qaeda-linked militants. -
US and UK Deploy Ships
U.S. and UK Move Ships Closer to Syria
The United Kingdom and the United States sent out ships to figure out whether or not the Syrian president al-Assad used chemical weapons. This action was in support of the U.N. investigations. -
Seeking Military Deployment
After finding out that chemical weapons had been used, Barack Obama gave a speech that he was going to seek approval from Congress to use military force in Syria while. Meanwhile, the US warships in the Mediterranean Sea are in position to fire at Syria. -
US Military Deployment
Because of the speech the President had given on congressional approval, the United States Senate agreed on the decision to use force against the Syrian government. Some nations have agreed to side with the U.S. while some nations still disagree with their decision.
