1. Executive Summary

The Syrian war started in March 2011 as a peaceful protest in Deraa a city located south of that country. The core aim of the protest was to pressurize the president in undertaking democratic reforms. However, President Assad’s administration did not take the provocation lightly because it responded with violence. The violence from the government infuriated the protestors who teamed up with rogue military officers in forming the infamous militant group which is known as the Free Syrian Army. The core agenda of the Free Syrian Army was to overthrow the Syrian government. Over time, the Syrian war has emerged as one of the gradual catastrophes in the contemporary world. By 2012 the struggle had already turned into a full-blown civil war. Statistics indicate that the Syrian civil war had claimed lives of approximately 250000 people in less than five years after its commencement. The same statistics show that over time more than 11 million Syrians have been displaced from their homes due to ongoing political unrest in that country. The war is between the forces opposing the government and those supporting it. Additionally, the situation has continued to worsen especially after the jihadist militant popularly known by the name Islamic State joined the war. Each of the group involved in the civil war is eyeing the price which is taking control of the nation while President Assad is keen on retaining power at all cost. This briefing paper explains the origin and current state of affairs regarding the Syrian infamous civil war.

1. Rioting turns Violent

In March 2011, the government of Syria witnesses a peaceful protest. Those peaceful protests were part of the Arab Spring Uprisings. The core organizers of those peaceful demonstrators were calling on the Syrian government to undertake democratic reforms. The pro-democracy protests begun as a reaction to the arrest and torture of Syrian teens who had painted revolutionary slogans in their school. However, the government did not take lightly the action of its citizens taking to the streets. President Assad’s administration saw it wise to respond to the uprising with violence. The security forces opened fire on protestors and killed several of them in cold blood. This ruthless act by the government motivated more Syrians to join the demonstrations. The revolt prompted nationwide protests in demand of resignation of President Assad. On the other hand, President Assad’s administration continued to use more force on protestor in an effort to defeat their activities. On seeing this, some of the demonstrators decided to join arms with military defectors. Hence, the formation of the infamous Free Syrian Army which is a jihadist group. The core purpose turned from pushing democratic reforms to overthrowing the government. By the year 2012, there were no more peaceful demonstrations in Syria because the struggle had turned into a full-blown civil war.

III.    The beginning of Civil in Syria

President Assad’s administration strategy of using force on demonstrators led to adverse effects. Violence went on escalating, and Syria languished into civil war. Rebel brigades facilitate the civil war that core purpose is fighting government forces for control of countryside, towns, and cities. By 2012 the rebels had entered into Damascus which is the capital city of Syria. In the same year, rebels had also forcefully entered the city of Aleppo. Statistics derived from the UN records indicate that by June 2013 over 90000 Syrians had been killed in the civil war. The came records suggest that by 2015 and estimated 250000 citizens of Syria had lost their lives in the same conflict. This significant loss of lives has made scholars argue that the situation in Syria has acquired sectarian overtones. Hence, drawing concern from the international community.

Over time the UN commission of inquiry carried its investigation and found out that all the parties involved in the conflict have committed wars crimes. Those crimes include rape, torture, murder, and enforced disappearances. The involved parties are also accused of blocking access to public resources as a technique of war. For example, access to health services, water, and food which a core cause of civilian suffering. The UN commission of inquiry also found out that the IS has been inflicting inhuman punishment of those that do not accept its rules. As a result of such war techniques, Syrians have continued to die in their thousand, and the UN fears that it might constitute a massacre.

1. The use of Chemical Weapons

In the year 2013 hundreds of Syrians were reported to have been killed by rockets which were filled with the nerve agent sarin. Those rockets were fired in multiple locations of Damascus suburbs. This action aroused attention from the international community and several human activists. The western powers pointed fingers at the Syrian government as the core suspect of that incident. However, the Syrian government was quick to deny the accusation and shifted the blame on rebel forces. However, the United States of America threatened to intervene, and as a result, President Assad agreed to destroy all of Syria’s chemical weapons. However, despite that destruction, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has over time continued to note usage of toxic chemicals in that conflict. A good example is on the deadly attack that was targeting rebels in 2014. The second example was in 2015 when insurgents attacked the northern town of Marea using homemade chemical weapons that killed a child.

1. Syrian Humanitarian Crisis

Statistics indicate that more than 4.5 million Syrians have been displaced since the conflict started. Women and children are the most affected parties by that civil war. The neighboring countries have been forced by circumstance to deal an influx of refugees which is a threat to their national security. Those nations include Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon. It is less than 10% of the Syrian refugees who have sought for safety in Europe. On the other hand, approximately 6.5 million Syrians are internally displaced by the civil war. The UN believes that more than $3.2 billion is needed to facilitate humanitarian assistance activities inside Syria. Those activities include the provision of food, water, and health services to internally displaced persons. However, humanitarian agencies are facing challenges when distributing the much-needed services because the war has been escalating over time.

1. The Rise of Jihadists and other Rebels

The armed rebellion in Syria has increased at an alarming rate since the civil war was incepted. Statistics indicate that the number of secular moderators has gradually increased significantly. At the moment the secular moderators are more than that of jihadists and Islamists. Humanitarian organization has evidence linking jihadists and Islamists to brutal war tactics which have been causing global outrage. The Islamic State has mastered the art of using chaos to take control of people. That is why in 2014 the US army launched an air strike which was intended to weaken IS. On the other hand, political analysts have noted that opposition groups are battling for supremacy in Syria instead of uniting towards a common course.

VII.    Peace Efforts in Syria.

Peace is a crucial feature for socio-economic growth in the modern world. However, Syrian citizens have been deprived that right for almost a decade now, and that is why there is a need to come up with a solution. The civil war has taken years, and there are signs of a winner so far. A lot of resources have been used in that war and lives lost. With that in mind, it is clear that there is a need to come up with a lasting solution to the conflict. The international community believes that it is only a political solution that can finish the Syrian civil war. That is because the origin of the war was political. It is recommendable for President Assad to step aside and let a transition government take power as the country prepares for a democratic election. On the other hand, the international community should be at the forefront in ensuring that Syria is back on her feet.

 
Do you need high quality Custom Essay Writing Services?