In Syria, millions of people are fighting for their lives this very moment.
It’s easy to turn a blind eye to this reality because it may not effect one personally, but the reality of its existence doesn’t make it any less important to understand. On a humane level, everyone on earth is connected. Everyone has the responsibility to be informed and aware of the issues happening around them. And by becoming familiar with those issues, everyone can conspire to advocate for change.
Syria is a place that desperately needs this kind of understanding. By gaining a perspective of what’s been happening there, we can each build greater awareness and shed light onto a place shrouded in darkness.
Here are some things you should know:
What’s Happening?
Since March of 2011, a civil war between the Syrian army and civilians has ruptured the country. War broke out when 15 schoolchildren were arrested in the city of Deraa for vandalizing city walls with graffiti protesting against the government. Protesters reacted to the arrests, and they remained peaceful until the army began firing at them on 18 March 2011. Four people were killed, and the following day lead to more bloodshed when armed forces shot and killed another civilian at the funerals of those killed the day before. Once news of the injustices spread to other parts of the country, violence ensued.
What Do Protesters Want?
Initially, protesters sought to advocate for a more democratic system, but when the government initiated an attack, their agenda changed immediately. More than anything, protesters want their President, Bashar al-Assad, to resign from office. They believe that his influence is what oppresses their rights as citizens, and when al-Assad refused to resign, violence erupted even more. When a backlash from the country broke out, President Bashar al-Assad agreed to resolve issues between civilians and leadership, however, demonstrators refused to accept it. What makes things even more difficult for the country is that a great deal of citizens still show support for al-Assad, and the tension between protesters and the government has spread to a conflict between the people.
Insurgency Groups
Making matters even worse for the country are the amount of insurgency groups who have taken up arms in the fight against al-Assad’s rule. Adding to the level of violence are rebel fighters, those living in exile, and political groups, all of who want to see the President removed from office. In total, there are nearly 1,000 different factions that have formed since protests began. From all them combined, roughly 100,000 fighters are positioned in the country. All of this comes at time when leadership is extremely unstable, and each group is striving to gain authority.
ISIS
ISIS stands for “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.” Since 2014, the terrorist group has made its way from the Iraqi boarder to claim power in Syria during its vulnerability. This radical society believes firmly in using violence and instilling fear against anyone who disagrees with their way of thinking. Their actions have been witnessed in the terror attacks in France and Brussels over the past two years, and their reach has grown due to the use of social media sites for recruiting soldiers around the world. ISIS has expanded its operations into Syria, and their presence is another force that both al-Assad’s army and the rebel fighters must combat.
Other countries have gotten involved since ISIS’s invasion, and in September of 2014, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom began carrying out airstrikes to eliminate them in Iraq. A year later, airstrikes were carried out in Syria to stop the terrorists. The only downside to the defense is that it has left the country in ruins, causing millions of Syrians to flea.
The Refugee Crisis
Due to the widespread violence in Syria, millions of citizens have fled their homes to seek refuge in other parts of the world. Since 2015, other countries, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and France have agreed to accept close to 20,000 refugees from the war-torn country. The U.S. has also accepted thousands.
But the journey to Europe has proven to be extremely deadly. According to International Business Times, in August 2015, 71 people trying to seek asylum were found dead in the back of a delivery truck on an Austrian freeway. During the same time, 82 more bodies washed up on the coast after a boat filled with refugees sank near Libya. This is only a small number of tragedies that have occurred the past TWO years. According to the U.N, there are thought to be more than 2,500 refugees who have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. Altogether, 4.8 million people are seeking refuge outside of Syria, and 6.6 million refugees are still trapped within the country, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The crisis has spread into a worldwide catastrophe, and supplying aid to those in need has proven to be close to impossible. Just recently, a truck supplying aid to Syrians was bombed by Russian or Syrian warplanes near the town of Aleppo. There were 20 people who were killed in the attack. Sadly, this only adds to the immense danger that comes along with trying to support those in need, and other countries around the world are finding themselves on opposing sides of how to end the violence.
Who’s Supporting Who?
It’s important to remember that Russia and Iran are in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s army, and the Untied States was providing support to moderate rebels, but has since stopped. The entire situation makes things difficult for world leaders because major superpowers are standing on opposite sides of the fence.
Russia has always been a major supporter for Syria since the 1960’s with their connections to Hafez Assad, Bashar’s father. Russia also has several military interests in Syria, such as a naval base at Tartus, which stands to be Russia’s only naval base located in the Mediterranean. Overall, Syria is thought to be a launching point for Russia’s military influence in the Middle-east.
The U.S. agrees that al-Assad should be removed from power for the immense pain and death that his leadership has caused, and their route of support has led to backing the National Coalition—the leading opposition alliance in Syria. The U.S. had begun providing training to 5,000 Syrian rebels who would lead the fight against armies on the ground, but paused it in October of 2015. To scale back from a direct influence, the US has now relied on carrying out airstrikes with international alliances to hopefully end the ceaseless assault on the country.
Other countries around the world are caught into the crossfire of the war, like France, the UK, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan, but only Russia and Iran have chosen to directly enforce military action. The U.S. has offered assistance to rebel groups, and has sent roughly 300 special forces soldiers into Syria to support Kurdish forces, but their main purpose is to only lend support, rather than its own military presence. Although, one thing that all countries agree with is ending the presence of ISIS. All countries have employed military forces to combat the terror group, and it is clear that their presence in Syria is one to immediately remove.
What to Take Away?
The most important thing to learn from all of this is an awareness of the issues. Yes, millions of people around the world are affected by this, but there is nothing worse than someone who is uninformed to the truth of the world’s current state. One may not be able to help directly to end the violence in Syria, but someone can be present in the issues at hand. By knowing and understanding these current events, a discussion can be created, and a dialogue of change can be just as powerful as an airstrike. Hopefully, when more people are informed about what is happening, more people will join together and make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
