Origins of war
In March 2011, popular discontent with the Ba'athist government led to large-scale protests and See more

Syrian factions
There are numerous factions, both foreign and domestic, involved in the Syrian civil war. These can be divided into four main groups. First, See more

The successive governments of Hafez and Bashar al-Assad have been closely associated with the country's minority Alawite religious group, an offshoot of Shia, whereas the … See more

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), also known as Rojava, is a de facto autonomous region in northeastern Syria. … See more

Assad government
The non-religious Ba'ath Syrian Regional Branch government came to power through See more

Protests, civil uprising, and defections (March–July 2011)
Initial armed insurgency (July 2011 – April 2012)
Kofi Annan … See more

Chemical weapons
Sarin, mustard agent and chlorine gas have been used during the conflict. Numerous casualties led to an international reaction, especially the 2013 Ghouta chemical attack. A UN fact-finding mission was … See more