This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22798391

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Syria: Mapping the conflict Syria: Mapping the conflict
(30 days later)
Territorial control in Syria has changed many times since the country's uprising began four years ago and the current conflict is characterised by heavy fighting and marginal gains in ground. Territorial control in Syria has changed many times since the country's uprising began more than four years ago, with long periods of attrition characterising the conflict.
Meanwhile, the US-led, multi-national coalition's air strikes against areas held by Islamic State (IS) - the extremist group that grew out of al-Qaeda in Iraq - appears to have slowed their rapid advance across Syria and neighbouring Iraq. However, there are now signs the battlefield is transforming, with extremist and Islamist groups establishing a momentum of their own and the forces of Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, under mounting pressure on several fronts.
Map sources: areas of control and border crossings from the Syria Needs Analysis Project; all other geographical detail from humanitarian organisations and Google Map sources: areas of control and border crossings from the Syria Needs Analysis Project. The organisation's primary source is a database of conflict incidents as recorded by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. All other geographical detail from humanitarian organisations and Google.
According to the Syria Needs Analysis Project (Snap), the US-led bombing campaign has disrupted IS governance in the areas it controls, though to what degree remains "unclear". In recent months, Islamic State (IS) - the extremist group that grew out of al-Qaeda in Iraq - has made significant gains in the country's central corridor. At the same time, other Islamist rebel groups - including the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front - have contributed to other advances, such as the seizure of the provincial capital of Idlib in north-western Syria.
However, heavy fighting continues on many fronts. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) predicts this renewed rebel strength will likely lead to additional upheavals across Syria's previously stalemated battle lines in the future.
Kurdish forces have been battling IS fighters in and around the northern town of Kobane, while rebel groups, IS and government forces have fought for ground in the northern regions of Aleppo and Idlib - as well as in Hama to the south. Elsewhere, primarily moderate Syrian rebels have made gains in the southern cities of Deraa and Quneitra, where groups have remained relatively united. In June, they seized the Syrian government's largest military base in Deraa, though this is far from the rebels' stated goal of reaching rural Damascus.
Rebels and the government are also battling for territory in areas approaching the capital, Damascus. Meanwhile, IS and government forces are fighting in the eastern region of Deir al-Zour. To the north, Kurdish forces have been battling a series of deadly IS counter-attacks. The jihadist group had, until then, suffered a series of defeats in areas along the Turkish border since being forced to withdraw from the town of Kobane in January.
However, Snap reports, these battles have not resulted in any major changes to front lines and relatively small victories have been achieved "at great cost". Most recently, the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) - supported by rebels and US-led coalition airstrikes - recaptured the border town of Tal Abyad, to the east of Kobane, in June.
In the southern cities of Deraa and Quneitra, where rebel groups have remained relatively united, a rebel advance against government forces has made some progress, though far from the rebels' stated goal of reaching rural Damascus. For the Syrian government, battling this fractured opposition has taken its toll, according to the ISW. The regime is facing a manpower shortage and has attempted to counteract it with conscription campaigns and an increased use of Iranian-sponsored paramilitary forces, it says.
Over the coming months, the ISW predicts that jihadist groups, such as IS and al-Nusra Front, will gain in influence and power, while Iran - the Syrian government's strategic ally - and Saudi Arabia - a backer of rebel forces - will escalate their involvement in Syria.
Conflict historyConflict history
The conflict has its roots in protests that erupted in Deraa city in March 2011 after the arrest and torture of some teenagers who painted revolutionary slogans on a school wall.The conflict has its roots in protests that erupted in Deraa city in March 2011 after the arrest and torture of some teenagers who painted revolutionary slogans on a school wall.
Opposition supporters - angered by the government's use of lethal force to crush pro-democracy demonstrations - first began to take up arms to defend themselves and later to expel security forces from their local areas.Opposition supporters - angered by the government's use of lethal force to crush pro-democracy demonstrations - first began to take up arms to defend themselves and later to expel security forces from their local areas.
As the country descended into civil war, armed rebel brigades battled government forces for control of cities, towns and swathes of countryside.As the country descended into civil war, armed rebel brigades battled government forces for control of cities, towns and swathes of countryside.
During 2012, rebel forces enjoyed a series of tactical successes, taking control of several outlying suburbs and towns around Damascus, and ousting troops from large parts of the second city of Aleppo.During 2012, rebel forces enjoyed a series of tactical successes, taking control of several outlying suburbs and towns around Damascus, and ousting troops from large parts of the second city of Aleppo.
However, the advances were not decisive. By the start of 2013, the government began to recapture opposition strongholds around the capital, while there was stalemate in Aleppo, with the city divided into rebel and loyalist-controlled sectors.However, the advances were not decisive. By the start of 2013, the government began to recapture opposition strongholds around the capital, while there was stalemate in Aleppo, with the city divided into rebel and loyalist-controlled sectors.
Then, in June 2013, government troops backed by fighters from the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement, Hezbollah, recaptured a number of rebel strongholds.Then, in June 2013, government troops backed by fighters from the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement, Hezbollah, recaptured a number of rebel strongholds.
Rebel forces have also been affected by deep divisions among groups. Secular moderates are outnumbered by Islamists and jihadists linked to al-Qaeda, whose brutal tactics have caused widespread concern and triggered rebel infighting. Rebel forces have been affected by deep divisions among groups. Secular moderates are now outnumbered by Islamists and jihadists linked to al-Qaeda, whose brutal tactics have caused widespread concern and triggered rebel infighting.
Islamic State's many foreign fighters in Syria are involved in a "war within a war", battling rebels and jihadists from the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front, who object to their tactics, as well as Kurdish and government forces.
Humanitarian crisisHumanitarian crisis
The escalating violence and IS advances have had a significant humanitarian impact on Syria and its neighbours.The escalating violence and IS advances have had a significant humanitarian impact on Syria and its neighbours.
Syria is now the world's biggest internal displacement crisis, with an estimated 7.6 million people forced from their homes but remaining in the country. Syria is now the world's biggest internal displacement crisis, with more than seven million people forced from their homes but remaining in the country.
Overall, the UN estimates 12.2 million are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including 5.6 million children. Meanwhile, more than 4 million people have fled the country's borders, mainly taking refuge in surrounding countries.
Meanwhile, almost 4 million people have fled Syria the country's borders mainly taking refuge in surrounding countries. Turkey and Lebanon have each taken in more than one million Syrians, while Jordan, Iraq and Egypt have become home to hundreds of thousands more.
Lebanon and Turkey have each taken in more than one million Syrians, while Jordan, Iraq and Egypt have become home to hundreds of thousands more.
Syrian refugees in the regionSyrian refugees in the region
Syria: Mapping the conflict