WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SYRIA?
Syria, a country in western Asia in the middle east, has been engaged in a very bloody civil war that claimed 500 lives this past week for about seven years with different groups trying to seize control of the country. The war is between the following groups;
*Soldiers of Bashar Al-Assad, the president of the country
*The rebels who do not want president Assad in power anymore
*a group called the Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
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HOW DID THE WAR BEGIN?
In 2011,the local people went on a peaceful protest, calling for the release of 15 school children who had been arrested for drawing anti-government graffiti on a wall. Also, the protesters were asking for democracy and freedom for the people but the government did not take it likely and opened fire on protesters killing four people, this was on the 18th of march 2011. The following day, they killed one person at funerals of the victims.
Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad
The people were both shocked and angry at the government and the unrest soon spread across the country. The people demanded that the President resigns but he refused and this increased the anger of the people. The president still had a lot of supporters who began to fight people who were against him and his government. A year and some months later, the international Red Cross Society reported that the violence in Syria had become so serious and that the country was in a state of civil war.
THE ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA (ISIS)
This is a militant group with extreme and violent views that joined the rebellion against the president in 2011. It found a safe haven in Syria and an easy access to weapons which it has used for violence against any person or group that doesn't agree with them. With their violent ways, they began to take over some parts of Iraq before moving into eastern Syria. As the chaos increased, so did their territory and power.
Most parts of Iraq has been occupied by ISIS along with some places in eastern Syria. The first big catch for ISIS was the city of Raqqa which they took over early in 2014 and made their headquarters alongside some parts towards Aleppo and along the Turkish bother but have since lost control over most of the lands. The city of Raqqa was taken from ISIS last year by an alliance consisting of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters with support from America. This ended the IS three years rule.
Deir al-Zour ,the largest city in eastern Syria ,was the only remaining stronghold of ISIS but according to the Syrian state TV, it has been retaken by the Syrian army, the soldiers of the President after weeks of fighting. This city was very important to ISIS as it was close to the Iraqi border but there are rumors that ISIS have not been completely defeated.
Both the Rebels and President Assad's army have been fighting each other and the same time fighting ISIS.
Rebel Fighters
THE REBEL FIGHTERS
The rebel fighters are not a single unified group. They are made up of different kinds of people fighting against the president and his army. Some are political parties , some are just fighters and some are in exile. There are as much as 1,000 different rebel groups fighting against the government since the onset of the war with about 100,000 fighters.
THE EFFECT OF THE WAR ON THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA
According to the United Nations(UN), millions of people have fled the country to neighbouring countries like Jordan and turkey and have turned to refugees. Still millions are in the country trying to find a safe place to live and not get caught between crossfires. Families have been displaced and separated, the children no longer go to school as their schools have probably been destroyed or for lack of teachers in their place of hiding. Many have also tried to reach Europe as some countries have agreed to accept refugees in search of new life. Organisations who have come to help say that getting help to people still inside the country is not only difficult but also dangerous. Millions of Syrians need help, many have died of malnutrition, others from sickness and injury as aid organisations are not be able to reach them.
THE UN DEMANDS CEASE-FIRE
The united nations security council demanded a 30 day cease fire to deliver aid to the millions still in the country and evacuate the ones who are critically ill or wounded and this was sponsored by Kuwait and Sweden. The UN tried to get Russia's support on the ceasefire but Russia's UN ambassador has described the ceasefire as unrealistic . Russia has always openly supported President al-Assad. It has used its permanent seat on the security council to shield Assad from the UN's action on war crimes and also block the resumption of the UN's investigations into the use of chemical weapons which were reportedly used in the war in August 2013 and again in April 2017.
A man carrying his child after the chemical attack last year
There is an international law that bans the use of chemical weapons during war as they were considered to be too cruel to use on human. In September 2013, after the first chemical attack which the Syrian government and the rebels denied responsibility, Russia and the US reached an agreement for the Syrian government to destroy its chemical weapons. This agreement was necessary as Russia and the US support different sides in the war.
Syria's President al-Assad shaking hands with Russian President Putin
After the second attack in 2017,the UK and President Donald Trump blamed President Assad for the attach but the Syrian president said he didn't do it and of course , Russia supported him and blamed the rebels. The US supported by the UK responded with military action by carrying out missile attacks on Syria.
WHAT NOW?
The war doesn't look like it is going to end soon. The government's army and the rebels are unable to defeat each other or come to an agreement. Countries and organisations are still supplying help, food and medical supplies for the civilians but the war still continues.
WE SHOULD TRY TO HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN,WITH PRAYERS OR DONATIONS.
PRAY FOR SYRIA