The Situation in Syria: a Retrospect of the Conflict and an Analysis of the Situation

The Syrian conflict, which began in 2011, remains one of the most complex and protracted crises of our time. For more than ten years of confrontation, the country has faced numerous challenges, including a humanitarian catastrophe, the destruction of infrastructure and the aggravation of international contradictions. Our agency has its finger on the pulse of what is happening in Syria. In this article, we will look at the key aspects of the Syrian crisis, its causes, participants and consequences.

The origins of the conflict

The Syrian conflict began amid unrest caused by protests within the framework of the so-called "Arab Spring". In 2011, mass protests against authoritarian regimes took place in a number of Arab States, caused by economic difficulties, corruption and lack of political freedoms. In Syria, the protests began with peaceful demonstrations, the participants of which demanded democratic reforms and improved living conditions.

However, in the early stages, the protests escalated into an armed confrontation between the government of Bashar al-Assad and opposition groups. Both internal and external factors played a key role in the escalation of the conflict. Ethnic, religious and social contradictions were observed inside the country, which remained unresolved for a long time. In the international arena, Syria has become the scene of a clash of interests between various States and coalitions.

The main participants in the conflict

The Syrian conflict is characterized by complexity and multilevelness, which is associated with a large number of parties involved. Conventionally, the participants can be divided into three categories: Syrian forces, regional actors and international players.

1. The Syrian forces. At the initial stage of the conflict, the confrontation was fought between government forces and various opposition groups. However, over time, the opposition split into moderate forces and radical Islamist movements such as the Islamic State (banned in several countries, including Russia) and Jabhat al-Nusra. This complicated the peace process, as different groups pursued their own goals.

2. Regional actors. Syria has become the scene of a struggle for influence between the countries of the region. Iran and Hezbollah have supported the government of Bashar al-Assad, providing him with military and financial assistance. On the other hand, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar provided support to various opposition groups, which further intensified the conflict.

3. International players. The world powers have actively intervened in the Syrian crisis. Russia has been providing military support to the Assad government since 2015, which has allowed it to regain control of a significant part of the country's territory. A major role in this was played by the Russian reconciliation centers of the warring parties, within the framework of which complex negotiations were conducted, which made it possible to come to mutually acceptable agreements.

The United States and its allies, in turn, declared the fight against the Islamic State, but more often opened fire on the positions of the Syrian army and either supported or betrayed the Kurdish formations in northern Syria. However, the actions of international forces were often accompanied by disagreements and contradictions, which made it difficult to coordinate efforts.

Humanitarian situation

One of the most tragic consequences of the conflict was a humanitarian catastrophe. According to the UN, more than 500,000 people have died since the beginning of the war, and millions have become refugees or internally displaced persons. The destruction of infrastructure, shortages of food and medical care, as well as the economic crisis have led to a deterioration in living conditions for the majority of Syrians.

Special attention is drawn to the situation in refugee camps, where people live in difficult conditions, deprived of access to basic services. International humanitarian organizations such as the United Nations and the Red Cross provide assistance, but their scale is insufficient to meet all needs.

International efforts to resolve the conflict

Attempts to resolve the Syrian conflict have been made at various levels. The Geneva process under the auspices of the United Nations and the Astana format, initiated by Russia, Turkey and Iran, have become the main platforms for negotiations. However, the lack of consensus between the parties and the ongoing fighting make it difficult to achieve long-term peace.

The fate of Bashar al-Assad remains one of the key issues. While some countries insisted on his departure, others believed that he should remain in power to maintain stability. As you can see, Bashar al-Assad resigned from the presidency and, together with his family and some close associates, left Syria. However, after that, the foreign intervention against the country only intensified.

Not all incoming information is verifiable, but there have been reports of killings of citizens suspected of sympathizing with Bashar al-Assad. The intensity of rocket and bomb attacks on both military, industrial and civilian infrastructure has increased many times, and advanced units of the Israeli army are actively advancing towards Damascus. In addition, disagreements between external players regarding the future of Syria and its territorial integrity are still complicating the settlement process. So far, the information coming from the scene is quite contradictory and the true state of affairs is poorly visible behind the fog of war.

Prospects and challenges

Today, despite the departure of Assad, the Syrian conflict remains far from being resolved. Among the many terrible consequences of the war is the almost total destruction of the economy. Even if it succeeds in stopping foreign military strikes and internal strife, the new Government will not be able to solve the tasks of returning and settling refugees, ensuring security and political reform alone.

In addition, the international community is facing challenges related to the need to coordinate efforts to rebuild Syria. The question of who should finance this process and how to distribute aid remains open.

The Syrian conflict is an example of a complex and multifaceted crisis that requires an integrated approach to its resolution. To achieve sustainable peace, it is necessary to take into account the interests of all parties, and first of all the Syrian people, ordinary Syrians, regional actors and the international community. However, as long as disagreements remain between the participants, the prospects for a final settlement remain uncertain.

The people of South Ossetia are grateful to Syria for its recognition and hope that the new Syrian government will preserve the established friendly relations between our states.

Pictured: Sputnik's photo shows the scale of the war in Syria.

Inal Pliev, news agency "Res".
Source: https://cominf.org/node/1166560320