Syria- A Glimpse of the war-shattered nation and the fight against terror
Discussing Syria, the Syrian Civil War, Arab Spring, Islamic State (ISIS), Refugees, Middle East and lot more.
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed Said — Dwight D. Eisenhower
War has been destroying humanity in all of us. Humans are now fighting for all kinds of material gains. This is an example of how a war turned a peaceful nation to a ghost land.
Although the world is facing a pandemic and the news has been sidelined by other issues like Yemen. All major world powers are now stationed within Syria calling for a solution to this problem.
Read about Yemen
Syria:- A Peaceful land Before 2011
On the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Syria!!
Syria was one of the most peaceful nations on the Earth, surrounded by Hostile and powerful neighbours. Syria’s major revenue came from Tourism, Crude Oil and Agriculture. Syria received had more visitors than Australia in 2009.
Syria has 14 Governorates. It has five neighbours namely Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Iraq. The capital of Syria is Damascus, believed to be the oldest city on earth. Aleppo was its largest city before the war began. It is one most continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Syria has a strong army called by Syrian Arab Army commanded under the President Bashar Al Assad. It is also accompanied by the Tiger Forces, a subsidiary of the same.
Syria has a strong diplomatic relationship with major superpowers, of which most of it are closest allies like Russia, Iran, China, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Pakistan etc.
Syria is a Sunni Major state, but has significant no. of Shias, Christians, Kurds and Alawites. President is also an Alawite and that has political significance not only in Syria but also in the entire Middle East.
Syrian Civil War- How did it begin?
All it began with a wave of Arab Spring against the Ruling dictators of Middle East nations. A wave of protesters marched towards Central Damascus demanding the Assad’s resignation. This shivered Assad and his party, thinking that his fate will be similar to that of Tunisian Dictator. Seeing this Assad tried to suppress the protests with his own army against its own people.
Suppressing them was a bad idea, because protests grew more intense across all its major cities, like Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Raqqa etc. UN and Other European nations condemned this move by Assad.
The other theory is put forward by Iran and Russia is all on how blocking the Oil and Gas pipeline moving from the Gulf to western Europe passing through Syria(which the Assad Govt denied the permission), led to a planned proxy war by the European and Gulf allies against Syria, which actually may not be a valid reason.
Suddenly a conflict developed when Turkey and Jordan followed by the US decided to arm the civilians to fight the army. Their only slogan was to get Assad ousted. Fearing this move that Iran will lose its friend Assad, Iran enters the stage through back door by asking Lebanese Hezbollah and other Shia Militias — The world’s Largest Non-state army to fight alongside Assad against the Rebel faction of Syria’s Army ie Free Syrian Army.
Rebels now had armed and financial support from the EU, US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE etc. They started to flourish there with their popularity and money power. They now controlled large cities and towns. Aleppo was the centre of rebel conflict. In Eastern Ghouta, which was once a rebel conclave in Damascus Suburb was bombarded severely with chemical weapons which raged the world community against Assad, which Syria denies. The US president Obama termed this as the Red Line for Assad and that he must leave the throne at any cost.
At the same timeline, in neighbouring Iraq saw, its weak political system falling for the Islamic fundamentalism, and giving rise to the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) with the capture of Fallujah, Kirkuk, Ramadi and Mosul. The same Group is believed to be an offshoot of Al Qaeda branch, that plotted the 9/11 and wanted Saddam Hussein to be ousted. It also declared a caliphate.
This group spilt into war raged Syria through its weak state of Raqqa and declared its supreme capital there. ISIL now, along with dead TTP flourished in large parts of Afghanistan and is now roaring against the Afghan Taliban.
ISIS later started to be a third player and a big threat to both Rebels and SAA. ISIS gains in Syria were so fast that they caught hold most of the Oil Fields of the Govt and started making revenue by selling it. Refugees of the war started to leave Syria northwards and eastwards towards Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. A lot of children were malnourished and Syrian Pound crashed and brought large scale economic crisis.
Fight against ISIS and entry of World Powers
US decided to enter the game for defeating the global terror captain, the ISIS in Syria and Iraq. The US decided to arm the Syrian Kurds, the Kurdish Peshmerga and the Iraqi Government. The US also had the main plot, that is to oust Assad and establish a democratic govt. So the Syrian Kurds now under US flag were sweeping the ISIS. After ISIS attacks across the Globe, International Powers had to sort out a large coalition to kill ISIS militarily.
International Coalition:- Germany, Denmark, France, UK, Turkey, Australia, Saudi, Bahrain, Moroco, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Jordan, Egypt, US, UAE Lebanon, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Algeria and the entire OIC.
Twist in tale
In 2015, War entered a new Twist by the beginning of 2015. Assad’s army was losing out of the plot. Hezbollah couldn’t well defend him and his army. Hezbollah and SAA lost hundreds of its fighters in a tripartite struggle. Rebels controlled the majority of Syria like Aleppo, Hama, Idlib, Homs. ISIS-controlled major border towns like Historical civilisation of Palmyra, the city of Raqqa and parts of Aleppo city.
By October, Rebels were en route towards the centre of Government power ie, towards Assad’s palace in Central Damascus. The crisis between the rebels and SAA began at just 7 km away from Assad’s palace that both ISIS and rebel Affiliates made into the city. This was considered to be the most critical point in the war timeline. Their aim was to assassinate him and establish their power in the Nation. Understanding the seriousness of the issue, Syria’s all-weather Ally Russia enters the plot. Within 2 days Russian Aircraft carrier reaches the Mediterranean at the Port city of Tartarus. Aircraft with Foot soldiers onboard under Putin’s command surrounded Assad’s Palace protecting him from the Jihadis. Within Days Russian and Iranian Armies were able to retaliate rebels and throw them out of the Damascus. This was a boost to SAA and its affiliates. Once again this showed that Assad is still alive in this never-ending saga.
Later Russia began to train Syrian Soldiers to fight both rebels and ISIS. within 6 months Syrian and Russian forces made a significant comeback with a considerable gain in territories. All Major cities one by one began to fall under Assad’s nose. Meanwhile, the Syrian Kurds were able to Lift the ISIS out of Large pockets in Syria.
The Russian navy is already docked at Tartarus and Latakia.
By the mid 2016, Syrian and Russian jets Pounded Aleppo city with Barrel bombs and air raids converting that big city into a ghost town.
Civilians Left the city other than rebel fighters. By December 2016 Rebels conceded their defeat in the Battle for Aleppo and thus marking Assad’s golden feather in his cap and asserting that he is not going anywhere.
His Priority was now to get back Historic city of Palmyra which he did achieve by March 2017.
With Assad fighting ISIS and rebels on one side, Syrian Kurds were now gaining Northern Border territories with Turkey. This move was hated by Turkey, as it considers SDF as a Terrorist group. Now, Because of this issue, Turkey decides to drive them off by themselves, marking a greater Turkish role in the war. Turkey attacks Arfin and killed many Kurdish Soldiers.
Also, read on Turkey’s Invasion of Syria
War to the Present — The Fall of ISIS.
At Astana Peace talks, Russia, Turkey and Iran under US (Trump’s)guidance brokered a ceasefire to reduce the infighting creating, De-escalation zones resolving that civilian areas will be kept away from the conflict. Turkey is now moving into a realistic understanding that Assad cannot be ousted at this point in time.
US and NATO along with Iraqi army and Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga begin the world’s largest anti-terrorism operation against ISIS in Iraq. A small parallel movement was tried out by Syrian Kurds under US guidance in Syria.
After successful 6 months in 2017, ISIS was driven out from Mosul, leaving over 1 million Homeless refugees moving towards Europe. Again within months SDF also declares End of ISIS in Raqqa and that ISIS was no more. Rebels in Syria are now presently reduced only to Idlib Province, rest all are under the control of the Syrian Regime and Kurds. The US military also killed ISIS chief Abu Bakr al Baghdadi in Deir Ez Zor, Syria.
Turkey’s game begins
Turkey is now requesting the US to stop arming Kurds and that Turkey had been (January 2018) undertaking the operation Afrin to kill Syrian Kurds who are on their border with Syria. War for regional power and stake continues.
The Syrian regime is now accused of using Chemical weapons on its own civilians in Damascus, which it strongly denies. The US later punished Syria with Continuous Strikes on its bases. The Govt successfully flushes out all the rebels on the border with Jordan and in the Homs governorate.
With Trump’s announcement of US troops leaving Syria, has created panic amongst the Kurds and confusion amongst the US allies. So the Kurds have decided to take up the help of Damascus in keeping Turkey away from an invasion. This is what Russia wants. Israel although objects this move and shows concern on more Iranian leverage in Syria. Even though, COVID 19 and Iran-US tensions slowed fighting in Syria, it continues to be affected by what happens in the neighbourhood.
Syrian Civil War On Maps and Graphics
2017-
2020-
What does the Syrian Civil War Represent?
What you think it is?
But what it really is
Refugees
Forced to leave the field due to conflict and starvation. Hundreds are now living in various nations as refugees. A large number of refugees die on their way, to towards a better life and some others die in war.
Only very few make it to Europe rest live in Neighbouring countries under the aid of International Aid agencies.
The Future for Syria and its people
Thinking too far may not help, but thinking right can solve the problem. Other than World Powers deciding its fate, we must let Syrian people must themselves convince their own leadership. People who thought Assad must go, now believe that Assad had made their country strong and kept it safe and secular. Refugees must be given an opportunity to come back to their own nation and begin new lives. All World Powers must sit together both in Geneva and Astana Talks for a greater political solution than a military solution. All nations must come together and must stand for People of Syria and must help them Rebuild this war-torn country which had a great History and a great tradition.
Let’s hope that Every Syrian child that is born, will get a good education and nourishment at any part of the world and that all Refugees will return back their own nation. We must also ensure that all types of religious fundamentalism and greed for money and power will always bring in destruction in one form or the other. All stakeholders must always put Syria first and its People First.
To learn more about the Syrian Civil War- You can go to Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC etc.
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