The conflict in Syria has resumed, with fighting breaking out across the country after years of relative calm. The renewed violence has killed hundreds of thousands of people since 2011 and displaced nearly 6 million.
In 2011, pro-democracy protests erupted in Syria, calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. The government responded with deadly force, leading to the formation of an armed opposition made up of various groups and ideologies. Foreign powers, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the US, supported the opposition, while Assad’s allies Iran and Russia provided backing.
In 2014, extremist groups like ISIS began to dominate the opposition, but a US-led coalition ultimately pushed the group out of Syria. A ceasefire between Russia and Turkey in 2020 brought relative stability to the region, but fighting never fully stopped.
The conflict has now reignited due to a new coalition of rebels, known as the “Military Operations Command.” The fighters have made significant gains, controlling much of Aleppo city and meeting little resistance from government forces. They claim to be seeking to liberate occupied territory and respond to stepped-up attacks from pro-Iranian militia groups.
The renewed violence has significant implications for the Middle East and beyond. With the latest developments, it remains to be seen how the conflict will play out in the coming weeks and months.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/syria-civil-war-12-07-2024-intl/index.html