In March 2011, mass protests broke out in Syria, inspired by the Arab Spring. Bashar al-Assad initially offered reforms, such as abolishing emergency laws and releasing political prisoners, but violence against protesters escalated. The government deployed troops and tanks, while Assad claimed Syria was the victim of an international conspiracy. By September 2011, armed opposition groups gained momentum, leading to a full civil war by mid-2012.
In July 2012, Assad’s inner circle suffered a major blow when several senior officials were killed in a bombing. As the war intensified, both sides received support from international allies.
In August 2013, attacks involving chemical weapons near Damascus killed hundreds, leading to calls for international military action. An agreement between the US, Russia and Syria led to Syria’s chemical weapons being placed under international control, avoiding military intervention. Despite this, Assad’s forces continued using indiscriminate weapons, such as barrel bombs in rebel-controlled areas.
As the war progressed, Assad’s hold on power grew stronger. The rise of ISIS in 2013 refocused international efforts, including those of the US, on defeating the extremist group. Russia’s military intervention in 2015 also strengthened Assad’s position. By 2017, Assad regained control of most major cities, with remaining rebels confined to pockets of territory.
In 2018, Assad’s army advanced in Idlib, where Turkish forces had intervened to protect rebel-held areas. As the conflict neared its end, Assad began rebuilding Syria through infrastructure projects and attracting foreign investment. One controversial measure, Law 10, allowed the government to seize property from displaced Syrians, enabling property redistribution to loyalists.
