Syria's civil war ran almost 14 years after a 2011 protest movement
Syria's civil war lasted nearly 14 years, beginning with 2011 Arab Spring protests against Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The Syrian civil war grew out of the Syrian revolution that began in March 2011, when anger at the Ba'athist government led by Bashar al-Assad sparked mass protests and pro-democracy rallies as part of the wider Arab Spring.
The regime met the demonstrations with lethal force, prompting defections and the rise of armed opposition groups. The civilian uprising then descended into open war.
One major turning point was the Syrian Democratic Forces' Second Battle of Raqqa, which eventually captured the Islamic State's de facto capital.
Why it mattersA single wave of protests escalated into a 14-year war, showing how quickly state repression can ignite lasting conflict.
Open this story in InSnip →
