Syrian Civil War

An armed conflict that began in Syria in 2011 between the government and opposition forces, later involving jihadist groups and foreign powers.

2011 Syrian uprising: A wave of protests against Bashar al-Assad’s government that began in Syria in March 2011. Its violent suppression transformed demonstrations into an armed rebellion.
Bashar al-Assad: Syria’s president since 2000 and head of the government that fought to retain power during the war. His survival in office became the central objective of the government’s campaign.
Syrian refugee crisis: The mass displacement of Syrians who fled their homes during the civil war, especially to neighboring countries and Europe. Millions crossed borders as violence and insecurity spread.
Iraqi Civil War: A series of armed conflicts in Iraq involving the state, insurgent groups, and sectarian militias after 2003. The Islamic State connected the Syrian and Iraqi battlefields without making them one war.
Free Syrian Army: An umbrella label for armed opposition groups formed largely from defectors and local fighters. It became an early symbol of the rebellion, though never a unified force.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: The Iraqi jihadist who led the Islamic State from 2010 until his death in 2019. He directed the organization’s expansion into Syria and its bid to establish a caliphate.
Internal displacement: The forced movement of people within their own country without crossing an internationally recognized border. Many Syrians fled repeatedly while remaining inside the country.
Libyan Civil War: A conflict that followed the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi and divided Libya among rival authorities and armed groups. Both wars followed uprisings, but Syria’s government retained a durable central military core.
Syrian Arab Army: The armed forces of the Syrian state, central to the government’s effort to retain power. Its campaigns and defections shaped the conflict’s military balance.
Salim Idris: A Syrian army defector who became chief of staff of the Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army in 2012. His appointment embodied early efforts to coordinate the fragmented armed opposition.

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