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| Syria: The story of the conflict | Syria: The story of the conflict |
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| The uprising has its roots in protests that erupted in March 2011 in the southern city of Deraa after the arrest and torture of some teenagers who painted revolutionary slogans on a school wall. After security forces opened fire on demonstrators, killing several, more took to the streets. | The uprising has its roots in protests that erupted in March 2011 in the southern city of Deraa after the arrest and torture of some teenagers who painted revolutionary slogans on a school wall. After security forces opened fire on demonstrators, killing several, more took to the streets. |
| The unrest triggered nationwide protests demanding President Bashar al-Assad's resignation as shown in this video report from May 2011. | The unrest triggered nationwide protests demanding President Bashar al-Assad's resignation as shown in this video report from May 2011. |
| By July 2011, hundreds of thousands were taking to the streets in towns and cities across the country. | By July 2011, hundreds of thousands were taking to the streets in towns and cities across the country. |
Bombardment | Bombardment |
| The government did not wait long to use military force to crush dissent, sending tanks to Deraa in late March 2011. The crackdown intensified as protests spread. The video shows Homs in February 2012 as rockets and mortars began hitting homes in the Baba Amr district, a focus of the unrest and rebel stronghold. After a month of bombardment, which left an estimated 700 people dead, the rebels retreated. | The government did not wait long to use military force to crush dissent, sending tanks to Deraa in late March 2011. The crackdown intensified as protests spread. The video shows Homs in February 2012 as rockets and mortars began hitting homes in the Baba Amr district, a focus of the unrest and rebel stronghold. After a month of bombardment, which left an estimated 700 people dead, the rebels retreated. |
| Fighting reached the capital Damascus and second city of Aleppo in 2012. Since then, several large-scale offensives by government forces have failed to halt the gradual rebel advance. | Fighting reached the capital Damascus and second city of Aleppo in 2012. Since then, several large-scale offensives by government forces have failed to halt the gradual rebel advance. |
Refugees | Refugees |
| Refugees have been flooding into neighbouring countries. More than one million Syrians who have fled to Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey are registered with or receiving assistance from the UN. | Refugees have been flooding into neighbouring countries. More than one million Syrians who have fled to Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey are registered with or receiving assistance from the UN. |
| The OCHA estimated about two million people had been internally displaced because of the fighting by January 2013. It said about four million people inside Syria were receiving or in need of humanitarian aid. The harsh winter made conditions more difficult. | The OCHA estimated about two million people had been internally displaced because of the fighting by January 2013. It said about four million people inside Syria were receiving or in need of humanitarian aid. The harsh winter made conditions more difficult. |
| The video report shows the situation on the Jordanian border in August 2012. | The video report shows the situation on the Jordanian border in August 2012. |
Bombings | Bombings |
| The government says scores of people have died in a series of bombings in Syria's main cities, many of them targeting security facilities. Officials have blamed "terrorists" linked to al-Qaeda. Opposition activists, however, maintain that the security forces planted the bombs to discredit both the rebels and the peaceful protesters. Analysts say this is not beyond the realms of possibility, but that jihadist militants are operating in Syria and have claimed most of the blasts. A shadowy group called the al-Nusra Front said it was behind the twin suicide bombings that reportedly killed 55 people in Damascus in May 2012. | The government says scores of people have died in a series of bombings in Syria's main cities, many of them targeting security facilities. Officials have blamed "terrorists" linked to al-Qaeda. Opposition activists, however, maintain that the security forces planted the bombs to discredit both the rebels and the peaceful protesters. Analysts say this is not beyond the realms of possibility, but that jihadist militants are operating in Syria and have claimed most of the blasts. A shadowy group called the al-Nusra Front said it was behind the twin suicide bombings that reportedly killed 55 people in Damascus in May 2012. |
Massacres | Massacres |
| The UN has accused security forces and pro-government Shabiha militiamen of deliberately targeting civilians - violating international humanitarian law. | The UN has accused security forces and pro-government Shabiha militiamen of deliberately targeting civilians - violating international humanitarian law. |
| One incident which caused international outcry was the killing of 108 people, including 49 children, near Houla, in May 2012. Witnesses said the victims were shot in their homes after the village was shelled in response to an anti-government demonstration. The government blamed "terrorists", but a UN inquiry said loyalist forces were likely responsible. Independent verification of such reports is very difficult. | One incident which caused international outcry was the killing of 108 people, including 49 children, near Houla, in May 2012. Witnesses said the victims were shot in their homes after the village was shelled in response to an anti-government demonstration. The government blamed "terrorists", but a UN inquiry said loyalist forces were likely responsible. Independent verification of such reports is very difficult. |
class="st-section-title">Arms | |
| The EU imposed an arms embargo in May 2011 to restrict supplies of weapons used to crush protests. However, the crackdown intensified and opposition supporters took up arms. As the conflict worsened, foreign powers began to help the new rebel groups. Western countries gave them logistical support, while Gulf Arab states sent money for small arms. But the rebels did not gain the upper hand, as government forces had heavier weapons, supplied by Russia and Iran. In March 2013, the UK and France said they would seek to shift the military balance and urged the EU to review the arms embargo. | |
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| Notes: Figures from the UK-based activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights include civilians, rebel fighters and security forces personnel. Those from the Violations Documentation Center (which works with the Local Co-ordination Committees, an opposition activist network) and the opposition group Syrian Shuhada (Syrian Martyrs) include civilians and rebels' deaths, but not security forces personnel. Syrian Shuhada also counts unidentified bodies, the main reason its numbers are higher. Government figures include civilians, soldiers and police, but not rebels. Images: Getty, AP, AFP, Reuters | Notes: Figures from the UK-based activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights include civilians, rebel fighters and security forces personnel. Those from the Violations Documentation Center (which works with the Local Co-ordination Committees, an opposition activist network) and the opposition group Syrian Shuhada (Syrian Martyrs) include civilians and rebels' deaths, but not security forces personnel. Syrian Shuhada also counts unidentified bodies, the main reason its numbers are higher. Government figures include civilians, soldiers and police, but not rebels. Images: Getty, AP, AFP, Reuters |
| Produced by: Lucy Rodgers, James Longman, David Gritten, Salim Qurashi, Helene Sears, Marina Shchukina | Produced by: Lucy Rodgers, James Longman, David Gritten, Salim Qurashi, Helene Sears, Marina Shchukina |