Dhruv Rathee

Dhruv Rathee - Syria War Ends! | Fall of Dictator Assad | Dhruv Rathee

The Syrian Civil War began as a result of widespread protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, which were part of the larger Arab Spring movement. The conflict escalated due to Assad's brutal crackdown on dissent, including the use of chemical weapons and torture camps. The opposition, including the Free Syrian Army, gained significant ground, leading to a prolonged and devastating war. The war drew in international players, with countries like the US, Russia, Iran, and Turkey supporting different factions. The involvement of extremist groups like ISIS further complicated the situation. Assad's regime eventually fell, but the future of Syria remains uncertain as extremist factions hold significant power. The video also highlights the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war, with millions displaced and thousands killed.

Key Points:

The Syrian Civil War was triggered by protests against Assad's regime, part of the Arab Spring.
Assad's use of chemical weapons and torture camps intensified the conflict.
International involvement included the US, Russia, Iran, and Turkey, each supporting different factions.
Extremist groups like ISIS exploited the chaos, complicating the conflict further.
Assad's regime fell, but extremist factions remain influential, leaving Syria's future uncertain.

Details:

1. 🔍 The Rise of Civil Unrest in Syria

Under Assad's regime, Syria not only witnessed the use of chemical weapons but also operated torture camps, contributing to widespread discontent.
A significant event in Daraa, where protests were met with violent repression, changed the Middle East region permanently, turning Syria into a war zone.
Multiple governments were overthrown, and several dictators lost power, indicating a regional shift in power dynamics.
Tanks were sent to the city of Daraa, and funerals were banned by Assad as protests escalated, further inflaming tensions.
Assad's actions, including the violent suppression of protests, proved to be a major blunder, leading to rebellion within the Syrian army.
The Syrian army began shooting its own soldiers, marking the beginning of the civil war in Syria.
The international community condemned Assad's actions, leading to sanctions and diplomatic isolation, which further destabilized the region.

2. ⚔️ The Onset and Escalation of the Syrian Civil War

2.1. Bashar Baroom's Personal Story and the Syrian Civil War

2.2. Broader Context of the Syrian Civil War

3. 📜 Historical Context and Assad's Rise

Bashar al-Assad's rise to power was significantly influenced by the fall of a government, which provided him with a new opportunity for leadership.
Bashar al-Assad was not the only target on a particular day; several others were also marked for death, including a child in Saidnaya prison who was saved.
Bashar al-Assad, a dictator in Syria, was once unchallenged even by ISIS, but his regime collapsed like a house of cards within two weeks.
Before 1918, Syria was part of the Ottoman Empire. Post World War I, European victors divided the region, with Syria falling under French control from 1918 to 1946.
The local population revolted against French rule, leading to several battles, and Syria eventually gained independence in 1946.

4. 🕌 Religious and Ethnic Dynamics in Syria

In 2014, 74% of Syria's population adhered to Sunni Islam, 16% to Shia Islam, and around 10% were Christians.
Among the 16% Shia Muslims, approximately 12% were Alawites, a sect sometimes considered distinct from Shia Islam.
Ethnically, Syria's population is primarily composed of Arabs (70-80%) and Kurds (around 10%).
Post-independence, power was concentrated in the hands of Sunni Arab landlords, excluding other groups from power.
The Ba'ath Party, a secular and socialist political party, gained popularity among students, minorities, and young army officers.
Significant events included Syria's participation in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the formation of the United Arab Republic with Egypt in 1958.
Multiple military coups occurred in Syria, notably in 1961, 1962, and March 1963, leading to the Ba'ath Party's rise to power.
In November 1970, General Hafez al-Assad seized power, establishing a dictatorship despite being from the Alawite minority in a Sunni-majority country.
Hafez al-Assad's regime was popular due to economic development, land reforms, and promotion of education.

5. 📉 Economic Decline and the Impact of Drought

5.1. Political Transitions and Economic Policy Changes

5.2. Economic Impact and Drought

6. 🔥 The Arab Spring and Regional Turmoil

6.1. Drought and Economic Strain in Syria

6.2. Catalyst of the Arab Spring

6.3. Spread of Protests in the Middle East

6.4. Common Causes of the Arab Spring

6.5. Impact on Syria and Conclusion

7. 🔫 From Protests to Armed Conflict

The situation in Deraa escalated when teenage boys were arrested and tortured for writing anti-government slogans, leading to protests.
A dismissive response from a government official to parents and neighbors fueled further protests.
The Syrian army's violent crackdown in Deraa resulted in four deaths, sparking more protests.
On March 23, 15 protesters were killed, and hundreds were injured; Deraa faced water, electricity, and mobile network cuts.
Funerals were banned to prevent protests from growing.
On March 30, 2011, Assad labeled the protests as foreign-backed conspiracies, intensifying protests and crackdowns.
On April 22, massive protests occurred, with over 100 deaths reported by human rights groups.
By April 25, tanks were deployed in Deraa, marking the first use of tanks against protesters.
Reports emerged of Syrian army soldiers refusing to fire on protesters, leading to internal rebellion.
By July, defected soldiers formed the Free Syrian Army, aiming to liberate the country from Assad's rule.
The Free Syrian Army successfully expelled Assad's forces from several areas, including Aleppo, within months.

8. 🌍 International Involvement and Sectarian Strife

The Free Syrian Army gained control over cities like Raqqa, marking the beginning of the Syrian civil war.
The Syrian National Coalition was formed by rebels and declared itself the government in exile, recognized by the US, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.
In August 2012, Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Hijab defected to join the rebels, indicating significant public support for the opposition.
Initially, protests were non-sectarian, targeting Assad's government, but evolved into a Sunni Muslims vs. Syrian minorities conflict due to Assad's minority Alawite community ties.
Countries like Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia supported the Sunni-majority rebels, while Iran and Hezbollah, Shia-majority entities, backed Assad.
By 2015, non-Muslim countries like the US, UK, France, and Germany supported the rebels, while Russia backed Assad.

9. ☠️ Chemical Weapons and Human Rights Violations

The Syrian war saw the involvement of multiple countries due to extremist groups like ISIS, with Jabhat al-Nusra forming in January 2012 as Al-Qaeda's Syrian franchise.
Bashar al-Assad released extremist militants in mid-2011 to portray himself as a secular leader against jihadists, linking opposition rebels with extremists.
The rise of Jabhat al-Nusra diminished the Free Syrian Army's influence, leading the U.S. to withhold arms support over fears of weapons reaching extremists.
Assad's forces attacked rebel bases under the guise of fighting terrorism, prompting the U.S. to designate Jabhat al-Nusra as a terrorist organization in December 2012.
Despite this, protests in Syria labeled Assad as the true terrorist, and in April 2013, ISIS was formed by merging the Islamic State of Iraq with Jabhat al-Nusra.
Chemical weapons, such as sarin, were used against Syrian rebels, with the U.S. accusing Syria of using them on its people in April 2013, violating international law.
Sarin, a nerve agent that paralyzes muscles and stops breathing, was used in an attack on August 21, 2013, killing over a thousand people.
The international community condemned the use of chemical weapons, leading to discussions on military intervention and diplomatic efforts to dismantle Syria's chemical arsenal.

10. 🗡️ The Rise and Threat of ISIS

10.1. UN Weapons Inspection in Syria

10.2. US Response to Chemical Weapons

10.3. Human Rights Violations in Assad's Syria

10.4. ISIS Expansion and Atrocities

11. 🌪️ Global Response to ISIS and Its Decline

The United Nations and countries like the USA, Russia, India, and the European Union declared ISIS a terrorist organization, leading to a coordinated global response.
The USA and its allies intervened in the Syrian war, deploying military forces to combat ISIS, while Russia supported the Syrian government, complicating the conflict.
Turkey's involvement was driven by its conflict with the Kurds, who were supported by the USA, creating tensions between Turkey and the USA.
Iran and Hezbollah supported Assad against ISIS, contributing to the complexity of the Syrian war.
The Syrian refugee crisis in 2015-16 was a direct result of the war's devastation, with cities becoming unlivable.
By 2016, the Syrian army, with Russian support, regained control of Aleppo, marking a significant turning point.
The US-led coalition's airstrikes significantly reduced ISIS's presence in Northern Syria, while Assad's forces pushed back ISIS in other regions.
In Iraq, the Iraqi army reclaimed Raqqa from ISIS, showcasing a successful military campaign.
By 2019, ISIS was largely eradicated, with only a few remaining strongholds, marking the decline of their influence.

12. 🔄 Shifting Power Dynamics and Stalemate

In March 2019, the Syrian government controlled approximately two-thirds of the country, with rebels holding the northwest and ISIS confined to small regions.
Major geopolitical changes occurred in the following years, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the Israel-Palestine war in 2023, involving Hezbollah and Iran.
These conflicts diverted the attention and resources of Assad's key supporters, Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, weakening Assad's position.
In November 2024, Assad's government attacked the rebels, leading to a counterattack by the rebels who quickly advanced to Aleppo, Syria's largest city and economic capital, by November 29.
Without support from Russia and Iran, the rebels captured Aleppo on November 30, celebrating their victory as the Syrian government abandoned weapons and ammunition.
Russia attempted to support Assad with airstrikes, but these were insufficient, and Russia had to import troops from North Korea due to its own military shortages.

13. 🏛️ The Collapse of Assad's Rule and Aftermath

The Syrian army's strongest units, the Fourth Armored Division and Republican Guards, were unable to maintain control due to economic decline under Assad's government, leading to devaluation of currency and unpaid salaries for guards.
On December 8, 2022, Damascus fell without a fight as the Syrian army was nowhere to be seen, marking a significant turning point.
Rebels reached a prison camp notorious for torture under Assad's regime, symbolizing the loss of control by Assad.
As control slipped, Bashar al-Assad fled the country, reportedly to Russia, indicating the end of his dictatorship.
Mass celebrations erupted in Syria as people took to the streets to celebrate freedom from dictatorship.
Following Assad's departure, people looted and burned the presidential palace, taking luxury items and destroying symbols of Assad's regime, such as posters and statues.
The economic decline was exacerbated by international sanctions and internal corruption, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and protests.
The international community reacted with cautious optimism, recognizing the potential for a new political landscape in Syria.

14. 🔮 The Uncertain Future of Syria and New Challenges

The Syrian civil war lasted almost 14 years, resulting in over 500,000 deaths and displacing approximately 13 million people.
Around 4.8 million Syrians are living as refugees in other countries.
Rebel groups that opposed Assad include members of extremist organizations, complicating the future political landscape.
Jabhat al-Nusra, initially an al-Qaeda branch in Syria, dissolved in 2016, but its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, is still considered a supporter of al-Qaeda by the US and UK.
The US has placed a $10 million bounty on Abu Mohammad al-Julani.
There is a fear of an extremist government emerging in Syria, threatening minority groups.
Abu Mohammad al-Julani is attempting to rebrand himself as a religious nationalist leader to gain minority support.
The Syrian Democratic Forces control a significant portion of northeast Syria, while the Turkish-supported Syrian National Army controls other areas.
Tahrir al-Sham has established an interim government until March 2025 to provide basic services and stabilize the country.
The Syrian Salvation Government's Prime Minister, Mohammad al-Bash, will head this interim government.
The Assad regime, led by Bashar al-Assad and his father, ruled Syria for over 50 years, but collapsed quickly, illustrating the 'dictator's dilemma.'
The future of Syria depends on whether a better government and leadership can emerge post-Assad.

15. 📚 Further Exploration and Conclusion

The link to download the textbook is available in the description below.
For a better understanding of Middle East geopolitics, particularly the relationships and conflicts among regional powers like Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, a detailed explanation is provided in the linked video.

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