Bashar al-Assad’s rule faced challenges from anti-government protests in 2011, leading to a violent crackdown and civil war. Despite attempts at reforms, the regime’s response escalated conflicts, drawing international condemnation. The emergence of ISIS shifted global focus, but external support for Assad helped him stabilize the regime. The conflict’s complexity grew, leading to eventual dramatic shifts in power dynamics as of 2024.
Beginning in March 2011, Bashar al-Assad faced significant unrest marked by anti-government protests in Syria, ignited by pro-democracy movements across the Middle East. As security forces responded violently, Assad attempted reforms, including cabinet changes and promises to abolish emergency laws, but these coincided with escalated violence, drawing international condemnation. With protests growing nationwide, government forces were deployed to suppress dissent, while Assad claimed to combat foreign-created sectarian conflict rather than addressing peaceful protests.
By September 2011, armed opposition emerged and initiated organized attacks against government forces, leading to failed international mediation efforts by both the Arab League and the UN. By mid-2012, the situation had devolved into a civil war, marked by significant losses in Assad’s inner circle following a bomb attack in July. As the conflict intensified, Assad made fewer public appearances, relying on staged events to maintain morale among supporters and troops.
Internationally, support for both Assad’s regime and the rebels surged, setting the stage for a regional proxy war, with countries like Turkey and Saudi Arabia backing the opposition, and Iran and Hezbollah supporting Assad. By late 2012, Hezbollah had begun sending fighters to assist Assad’s forces in the conflict. The dynamics changed dramatically after alleged chemical weapon attacks in 2013, which led to calls for international military intervention.
Russia’s agreement to secure Syria’s chemical weapons in exchange for halting Western military strikes marked a turning point. Despite not using chemical weapons, Assad’s forces faced accusations for using barrel bombs against civilian and military targets, which were condemned as war crimes. As the civil war continued, the rise of ISIS shifted some international focus away from ousting Assad, leading to a more secure position for his government as external threats evolved.
The Syrian civil war began in March 2011 following the eruption of protests against Bashar al-Assad’s regime amid the broader Arab Spring. Assad, whose political lineage traces back to his father Hafez al-Assad, responded initially with violent repressions and ineffective reforms. As discontent grew and armed opposition formed, the crisis escalated into a civil war that drew in foreign powers, complicating the conflict significantly over the years and leading to multifaceted diplomacy and military interventions.
The Syrian conflict under Bashar al-Assad illustrates the complexity of modern civil wars influenced by domestic, regional, and international dynamics. Initially threatened by national protests, Assad’s reliance on violence and international alliances helped him reassert control, despite significant humanitarian and legal controversies. The intervention of foreign powers and the evolution of insurgent groups shaped the ongoing conflict, culminating in Assad’s tenuous hold on power as external support waned by 2024.
Original Source: www.britannica.com
