CIVIL WAR IN SYRIA- (Article)

BACKGROUND:

The secular Ba’ath Syrian Regional Branch government came to power a coup d’etat in 1963. For several years Syria went through additional coups and changes in leadership, until in March 1971, Hafez-al-Assad, an Alawite, declared himself president .As particularly  the secular Syrian regional branch remains the dominant political authority in what had been a one-party state until the first multi-party election to the purpose council of Syria was held in 2012.  Hafez-al-Assad implemented a new constitution on 31^st of January which led to a national crisis. Unlike previous constitutions, this one did not require that that president of Syria be Muslim, leading to fierce demonstrations in Hama, Homs and Aleppo organized by Muslim brotherhood and the Ulama. The government survived as a series of armed revolts by Islamists, mainly member of Muslim brotherhood, from 1996 until 1982.

Upon Hafez-al-Assad’s death in 2000, his son Bashar-al-Assad was elected as a president of Syria. Bashar and his wife Asma a Sunni Muslim were born in Britain and also got education from Britain, initially inspired hopes of democratic Bashar became failed to deliver on promised reforms. It was maintained by the president in 2017, that no moderate opposition to this rule exists, and that all opposition forces are Jihadists intent on destroying his secular leadership, his view was that terrorist groups operating in Syria are linked to the agenda of foreign countries.

INTRODUCTION:

The civil war of Syria which has devastated the entire country of Syria and its neighbors, is a conflict that involves several nations, rebel groups and terrorist organizations. A non-violent protest was started in 2011 quickly escalated into full blown welfare.

A fight was being happened in which more than 470,000 people were killed, with over 1 million injured and the millions of people more forced to flee their homes and live as refugees.

WAS ARAB SPRING THE SPARK THAT IGNITED THE CIVIL WAR?

Many difficult events led to Syrian civil war, one event known as Arab Spring, stands out as perhaps the most significant trigger for the conflict. A series of political and economic protest in Egypt and Tunisia broke out in 2011. These successful revolts, dubbed the Arab Spring, served as an inspiration for democracy activities in Syria. About 15 school children were arrested. and tortured for writing graffiti that was inspired by Arab Spring in the same year.

A boy was being killed. The one who were arrested sparked demonstrations through Syria citizens of the country came forward for release of the remaining children, along with greater freedom for people in the country.

At that time, president (Bashar-al-Assad) responded by killing and arresting hundreds of protests. The whole country was suffering from a big shock and were very angry so they started doing big protests throughout Syria demanded resign of Assad. After, making a refusal on resign, the people being in anger reached for war.

The rebels of Syria formed for free Syrian army, and a civil war was imminent in July by the year 2011. As, the incident of Arab inspired occurs many Syrian citizens were dissatisfied over the government’s incompetency, people’s lack of freedom and general living conditions in the country even before Arab Spring inspired incident.

 Assad becomes president of Syria after his father’s death in 2000. A lot of groups fought for human rights and accused the leader of habitually torturing and killing political opponents throughout his presidency.

When Assad was ruling over the country other many issues were raised (that caused a frustration) like unemployment in people, government corruption and severe drought were other issues that caused a big frustration among the people of the country. Another problem that came in the front of religious atmosphere in the country, maximum population of the country was Sunni Muslim, yet Syria’s government is dominated by members of Shia, Alawite and Sunni.  Then, frustration occurred throughout Syria and other nations in middle east.

A DIVERSE MIX OF CHARACTERS COMPLICATED THE SITUATION

The war started the situation becomes very complicated as other countries had become a part of this, and entered into the picture. Countries like Russia, Iran, Hezbollah remained as backers (a military group based in Lebanon) and the united states, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and other western countries are described as the supporters of the moderate rebel groups emerged as the war begun. The forces of the rebels and Assad’s fought the battle separately against ISIS, while also waging war against each other. In view of complicating the dynamics, the US has also led on international bombing campaign against ISIS targets since 2014.

United nations official Mark Lawcock is asking the UN to reauthorize cross-border aid to enable aid to continue to reach refugees in Syria. Then he added that there is no way to deliver what is needed.   

CONCLUSION:

Finally, this devastating war to Syria reached to a conclusive stage and with the eighth round of UN mediated talks between the government of Syria and opposition that begun in Geneva on November 28, signify a decisive phase in nearly six years of Syrian war, these talks are to continue till December 15 and widely expected to bring the curtains down on the war that had to the killing of over 3,30,000 citizen and the displacement of millions of people. The basis for optimism on these talks was laid on November 24 in sochi, where at the initiative of Russia, the presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey finalized the contours of road map the absence of US, the world’s premier superpower is significant.

Russia entered into the Syrian war at the request of Bashar-al-Assad in September 2015. Particularly the president Putin declared the Russian goal as: stabilizing the legitimate power in Syria and created the conditions for the political compromise. Accordingly, Russia has not only provided military support to Assad but also moved its pawns strategically to ensure a political entity of Russia, the dimensions of Russian war had completely changed.

The sochi declaration adopted by Russia, Iran and Turkey stated that sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, will be respected and that of three countries will work for the establishment of peace and stability. They also endorsed the Russian proposal to host a national dialogue insolvency the representative of the Syrian government and all opposition groups to enable then draft a new constitution and hold election on that basis, under UN supervision. The Syrian developments symbolized by the meeting of three head of state- Russia, Iran and Turkey in sochi were enthusiastically welcomed. Some Iranian media outlets termed this is as a precursor to the down of a new middle east where the influence of US, Israel and Saudi Arabia is drawn to concur with that conclusion.

Nonetheless, it can be clearly stated for first time in the post 1991 world, the US was pushed to the side lines. It succeeded in Iraq and Libya, where Saddam Hussein and Gadaffi were ousted, killed and chaos was let loose in those countries. The US is able to dictate and ensure its permanent presence, in the process unleashing unprecedented strife.

 US was checkmated in Syria for the first time. It failed to dislodge Assad. It failed to gain a foothold. And hence a hold over Iran a huge power in that country. The significance of these developed shall not be lost.

-  Akshu

Lloyd Law College.