Civil war
In 2015, Russia got more involved in the conflict in Syria by sending troops and military equipment to an air base near Latakia. They started airstrikes in September, initially claiming to target ISIL but actually hitting mostly rebels fighting against Assad to support their ally.
Later, in 2016, Russian and Syrian government forces focused on the eastern part of Aleppo, bombing heavily. They didn’t try to avoid civilian casualties, hitting medical facilities and aid workers. This drew condemnation from human rights groups, but they continued until the rebels collapsed in December.
By 2016, ISIL faced pressure from multiple sides, weakening in northern and eastern Syria due to confrontations with Kurdish forces, pro-Assad Syrian forces supported by Iran and Russia, and Turkish-backed rebel groups. The US-led air campaign also weakened ISIL. ISIL’s rivals joined forces and fought against them. Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) cleared ISIL from Raqqa, its capital, with US support.
Western governments intervened more as the conflict continued. The US attacked a Syrian air base in response to a chemical weapons attack in 2017. A year later, US, British, and French forces targeted Syrian chemical weapons facilities.
Israel targeted Iranian military in Syria in 2018, leading to heavy fighting. Syrian government forces, backed by Russia, recaptured rebel-held territories in 2018. They made deals allowing rebels safe passage to Idlib in exchange for surrendering.
In Idlib, tensions rose as Syrian government forces, supported by Russia, launched offensives despite agreements for buffer zones. Turkey intervened to prevent radical groups from taking over. In 2019, Syrian forces launched offensives in Idlib, leading to clashes with Turkish forces.
In 2019, Turkey launched an offensive into Syria’s Kurdish-held northeast region, aiming to destabilize Kurdish separatists and create a safe zone for Syrian refugees. Kurdish forces allied with Assad’s government to counter Turkish advances.
Tensions escalated in 2020 when Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike, leading to retaliation against Syrian forces. A general cease-fire was negotiated by Turkey and Russia shortly after.
Syrian Civil War: Facts & Timeline
Syrian Civil War: Refugee and asylum-seeker statistics- Over half of Syria’s population is displaced due to the continuation of hostilities, with an estimated 16.7 million people requiring emergency aid in 2024. Approximately 6.5 million are recognized as refugees and asylum-seekers. The Syrian Civil War began in 2011 over concerns such as employment, corruption, and democracy.
In this article, we’ll talk about the Syrian Civil War: Facts & Timeline. We will cover what happened during the war, when it started, how it unfolded over time, and the impact of war.
Table of Content
- Syrian Civil War Overview
- Syrian Civil War Key Facts
- Syrian Civil War Timeline
- Uprising
- Civil war
- Impact of Syrian Civil War
- Conclusion
- FAQs on Syrian Civil War: Facts & Timeline
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