It’s circulating all over the news and has been for a very, very long time: Syria. However, many people aren’t fully aware of the background of the situation in Syria and how it got to this point. In light of the recent tragic events and the United States’ response, here’s a rundown to keep you informed as more events continue to unfold.
In 2011, a revolt began in Syria under the regime of Bashar al-Assad, who took office in 2000 after his father’s death. The protests started in the wake of the “Arab Spring” uprisings that influenced a wave of popular dissent in the Middle East and North Africa. The civil war officially began in March of 2011 when a group of teenagers was arrested and subsequently tortured (one 13-year-old boy was killed) after showing support of the Arab Spring through graffiti. Obviously, many protests and demonstrations took place–but Assad responded by imprisoning and killing hundreds of citizens. Then in July, militarized rebel groups formed with the intent to overthrow Assad’s government, which resulted in an increasingly deadly civil war lasting more than six years, leaving millions, including children, as refugees of war.
Foreign involvement in Syria became more noticeable as the war went on, primarily because of the role the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or IS) plays. Originally named al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), they became a large force in the civil war in 2013 when they took the opportunity to establish a presence in Syria and changed their name to ISIS. Another al-Qaeda front, al-Nusra, was also fighting in Syria at the time and didn’t like that another branch was attempting to impede their fight. ISIS officially broke its ties with al-Qaeda and rebranded itself as IS, and continued. IS became the first rebel group in Syria to take over major cities, meaning it has become the most powerful force against Assad. What makes this conflict tricky is that if either side gains majority control, the country will fall to ruins.
Assad has been a notorious leader in Syria, which has only worsened since the start of the civil war. Many, including past president Barack Obama, have said that instead of choosing the path of least resistance and allowing his country to transition to democracy, he chose the violent path of tyranny. He has bombed his own cities and most notably, used chemical weapons against his own people. The United States is in a difficult position because they obviously cannot support Assad or ISIS. They also have been reluctant to put their own forces on the ground in Syria. Due to this, most Western foreign countries funnel resources to other rebel groups such as the Kurds, who are also key contenders in the war. The United States has also resorted to air strikes in places where ISIS took over to weaken their stronghold. Russia, on the other hand, is in Assad’s corner and is therefore sending significant resources his way. This is the root of the U.S-Russia conflict in Syria.
On April 4, one of the worst chemical attacks to ever occur in Syria was carried out in an opposition-held province, supposedly by Assad (and possibly Russia). In response, on April 6 the Trump administration launched over 50 missiles towards the airfield in Syria where the chemical weapons are said to have come from. Reactions across the political spectrum are mixed at this attempt to alleviate the situation. Though it’s tough to comment on the situation as it’s extremely fragile, one thing is for sure: more and more people are being killed or forced out of their homes. The president and many other world leaders have said they’re disgusted and saddened to see what Syrian children and families have to go through. However, many are not in favor of helping them find refuge in other countries.
The irony is uncanny as foreign countries have also contributed to the refugee crisis through their own military actions. With all that’s happening, whether it’s for better or for worse, people are dying. Children are being born as refugees, not Syrian citizens. There is no one easy solution to the immensely complicated situation in Syria, but we can help by staying educated and empathetic. All we can hope is that whatever happens next doesn’t escalate the situation any further.