The Story of Syria’s Civil War

The Story of Syria’s Civil War: From Dictatorship to Chaos

On a quiet morning in Syria’s Sednaya prison, a 63-year-old writer, Bashar Barhoom, awaited his fate. A supporter of Syria’s dictator, Bashar Al-Assad, Barhoum had been imprisoned seven months earlier after criticizing Iran for exploiting the Syrian people. On that fateful day, Barhoom was minutes away from execution. But when the door opened, it wasn’t the Syrian security forces—it was the rebels. The opposition had overthrown Assad’s regime, and Barhoum, along with others destined for death, walked free.

This single act of liberation marked the culmination of decades of oppression, rebellion, and conflict that transformed Syria into a battleground for ideologies, superpowers, and survival.

The Roots of the Syrian Crisis

Syria’s struggles began long before the civil war. Following independence from French rule in 1946, the country faced instability due to its diverse religious and ethnic composition. Sunni Muslims formed 74% of the population, while 16% were Shia Muslims, including 12% Alawites—a sect that would come to dominate politics. Kurds and Christians made up the remaining 10%.

In 1970, Hafez Al-Assad, a Shia Alawite military officer, seized power in a coup, establishing a dictatorship in a Sunni-majority nation. His rule was marked by brutal suppression, including the infamous 1982 Hama Massacre, where 20,000 Sunni militants were killed. However, his focus on economic development and land reforms kept him popular among certain groups.

When Hafez died in 2000, his son Bashar Al-Assad took over. Bashar, a Western-educated ophthalmologist, initially raised hopes for reform. But instead of improving the country, he continued his father’s authoritarian policies. Economic liberalization under Bashar led to rising unemployment and poverty, especially after a severe drought from 2006 to 2010 turned 60% of Syria into desert. With inflation soaring and food prices skyrocketing, the people were growing desperate.

The Spark of Rebellion

The Arab Spring of 2010–2012 saw dictators toppled across the Middle East, including Tunisia’s Ben Ali and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak. Inspired by these movements, Syrians began expressing their frustrations. The turning point came in February 2011 in Daraa, when Mouawiya Syasneh, a 14-year-old boy, wrote on his school wall: “It’s your turn, doctor!”—a direct challenge to Bashar Al-Assad.

The regime’s response was brutal. The secret police arrested Mouawiya and his friends, torturing them horrifically. When their parents pleaded for their release, they were humiliated and told to forget their children or “make more.” Outraged, the people of Daraa began protesting. The government responded with bullets, killing several protesters. Funerals turned into rallies, and soon, the protests spread nationwide.

By July 2011, defectors from the Syrian army had formed the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to fight the regime. What began as peaceful demonstrations had now turned into a full-blown rebellion.

The Descent into Civil War

As protests grew, Assad’s regime intensified its crackdown, using tanks, helicopters, and even chemical weapons. The conflict began attracting extremist groups, with Al-Qaeda forming Jabhat al-Nusra in 2012. Assad’s calculated release of Islamist militants from prison added fuel to the fire, as groups like ISIS emerged, taking advantage of the chaos.

By 2014, ISIS had declared a caliphate, controlling large parts of Syria and Iraq. Their reign of terror included mass executions, destruction of cultural heritage, and horrific genocide against minorities.

A Global Proxy War

Syria’s civil war soon drew in regional and global powers, each pursuing their own agendas:

• Russia and Iran: Supported Assad to maintain their influence in the region. Russia provided military aid and used its UN veto power to shield Assad from international sanctions.
• The United States and Allies: Backed the rebels, claiming to fight for democracy while targeting ISIS with airstrikes.
• Turkey: Focused on countering Kurdish forces, fearing their rise could inspire separatism within its borders.
• ISIS and Extremist Groups: Exploited the chaos to expand their influence.

This international involvement turned Syria into a battlefield for superpowers, with devastating consequences for its people.

The Use of Chemical Weapons

One of the darkest chapters of the war was Assad’s use of chemical weapons. In August 2013, a sarin gas attack killed over 1,000 civilians, including children. Despite widespread condemnation, Assad remained in power, thanks to Russia and China vetoing UN resolutions. The U.S. conducted retaliatory strikes, but these efforts failed to change the course of the war.

The Human Cost

Syria’s civil war caused unimaginable suffering. Over 500,000 people were killed, and millions were displaced. Entire cities like Aleppo and Raqqa were reduced to rubble. By 2016, more than 80% of the population was living in poverty, and the world witnessed a massive refugee crisis.

Social media played a crucial role in documenting the atrocities, with videos of airstrikes, barrel bombs, and protests spreading globally. However, it also became a platform for propaganda by various factions.

The Fall of Assad’s Regime

In November 2024, Assad’s forces launched new offensives against rebel-held areas, reigniting tensions. The rebels responded with a counter-attack that rapidly gained momentum. Within days, they captured Aleppo and Damascus. Assad fled to Russia, marking the end of his 23-year rule.

As news of Assad’s downfall spread, Syrians celebrated in the streets. Prisons were opened, freeing countless political prisoners. The Presidential Palace was looted, and symbols of Assad’s dictatorship were destroyed.

The Aftermath and Future of Syria

With Assad gone, the rebels formed an interim government led by Mohd Al-Bashir. However, the presence of extremist factions like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with roots in Al-Qaeda, raises concerns about the future.

HTS leader Abu Muhammed Al-Julani has attempted to rebrand himself as a nationalist rather than a jihadi, but skepticism remains. Meanwhile, Kurdish forces control the northeast, and Turkish-backed rebels hold other regions.

The interim government faces the monumental task of rebuilding a nation devastated by war. The scars of 14 years of conflict run deep, and the road to peace and stability will be long and arduous.

A Lesson in Resilience

Syria’s story is one of unimaginable pain but also resilience. From Mouawiya’s graffiti to the fall of Assad, it highlights the power of ordinary people standing up against oppression. However, it also serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of dictatorship, foreign interference, and extremism.

The future of Syria remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the Syrian people have endured enough. It is now up to them and the international community to ensure that the sacrifices of millions were not in vain.

This is the story of Syria—a nation that, despite being torn apart, continues to fight for its right to exist.