Syrian Civil War

The Syrian Civil War is an ongoing conflict taking place in Syria as part of the Western backed Arab Spring protests that erupted across the region in 2011. Between 2011 and 2024 the majority of fighting took place between the anti-imperialist Syrian Arab Republic and various Western backed opposition forces until in December 2024 the government fell in a unprecedented offensive led by Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Since the fall of the Assad government on December 8, the civil war has entered a new stage with the terrorist group HTS being recognised as the de facto government of Syria, but fighting has continued and HTS's ally Israel has begun a ground invasion in the south.

Overview

2011 protests

Starting in 2011 as part of the Western-supported Arab Spring, Syria descended into civil war as foreign powers began supporting proxy forces to overthrow the Assad government.

Ghouta chemical attack

On 21 August 2013, a chemical weapon detonated in Ghouta and was blamed on Bashar al-Assad, justifying NATO air strikes on Syria. The allegations were first made by Prince Bandar bin Sultan, then head of the Saudi Arabian Intelligence Service, who has previously been involved with both the Contras and the Mujahideen. Interviews with people living at the site of the detonation however revealed that Saudi Intelligence, including bin Sultan, had been responsible for providing the chemical weapons to the rebels. Later that year, the rebels explained in an interview that they were not aware they were in possession of chemical weapons and weren't taught how to use them, resulting in the detonation of the Sarin gas by the rebel and Saudi-backed forces.

Stalemate

Saudi Arabia and Prince Bandar trained Reactionary militias and insurgents in Syria's neighbor Jordan but their initiative was swiftly supplemented by the U.S who began to make payments to the anti-Assad forces. In addition to Saudi Arabia; Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey were also responsible for training insurgents and terrorists, with there being a competition between them to establish leadership over the anti-government forces.

The U.S. has supported Islamic jihadists in their Operation Timber Sycamore, not unlike Operation Cyclone in Afghanistan. They have also killed at least 500 Syrian civilians in airstrikes throughout the war, including 30 when a school was bombed, and used chemical weapons such as white phosphorus As of 2021, the military situation was favorable to the Syrian government, which has retaken most territory thanks to the legal assistance of the Russian Air Force as well as assistance from Syria's ally, the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On 3 February 2022, U.S. forces killed 4 women and 6 children during a raid in Idlib province.

The U.S. continues to occupy the resource-rich area of Northern Syria, to control its hydrocarbons and agricultural output and has firebombed hundreds of acres of wheat fields. The goal of the US is to prevent the reconstruction of Syria. U.S. and the U.N. prop up opposition forces via the Bab al-Hawa crossing – the only U.N. approved crossing for transporting international aid into Syria. The aid have been described by The New York Times as “…a lifeline for opposition-held areas in the north.”

The U.S. imperialists were using economic warfare to cripple the Syrian economy. These sanctions might be soon circumvented with Syria's admission into China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Collapse of the government

On 27 November 2024, the Syrian Salvation Government started an offensive towards Damascus and captured Aleppo. Three days later, Hama was captured.

Meanwhile, the Turkish occupation forces as well as the Rojava Government and the US-backed Syrian Free Army also advanced, capturing territories and cities.

On 6 December, a revolt popped up south of Damascus.

On 7 December, Homs was captured.

On the early hours of 8 December, rebel forces entered Damascus and declared the civil war and Assad's rule in Syria as over.

By the end of the day, most of the government remnants were captured, with only few Russian air and naval bases still remaining under government control.^{[citation needed]} Sputnik News announced that Assad and his family had safely arrived in Moscow. This marked the end of the Assad Presidency, and the state was swiftly handed over to the rebel coalition.