Geneva: The first round of UN-facilitated talks between the Syrian government and opposition delegates took place in Geneva, Switzerland in June Astana: In May , Russia, Iran and Turkey called for the setup of four de-escalation zones in Syria, over which Syrian and Russian fighter jets were not expected to fly. Sochi: In January , Russia sponsored talks over the future of Syria in the Black Sea city of Sochi, but the opposition bloc boycotted the conference, claiming it was an attempt to undercut the UN effort to broker a deal.
Since the conflict began, as a Syrian rebellion against the Assad government, many new rebel groups have joined the fighting in Syria and have frequently fought one another. In December , the Syrian army scored its biggest victory against the rebels when it recaptured the strategic city of Aleppo. Since then, the FSA has controlled limited areas in northwestern Syria.
In , Syrian opposition fighters evacuated from the last rebel stronghold near Damascus. The group quickly gained international notoriety for its brutal executions and its energetic use of social media to recruit fighters from around the world.
In April, Russia brokered a deal to evacuate opposition fighters from Eastern Ghouta in the south to Idlib in the north, Idlib being one of the few strongholds controlled by opposition fighters. The province is strategically important for the Syrian government and Russia for its proximity to the Russian-operated Syrian Khmeimim airbase. The Syrian army recaptured the city of Homs in , but fighting continues with rebels in the suburbs between Homs and Hama.
Who is controling what in Syria? Still caught in the middle, with little cause for optimism, are the Syrian people. I know a solution is not easy, but world powers should do whatever they can to end the nightmare. The United Nations Security Council has been unable to take any meaningful action to end the crisis, paralyzed by both Assad's ally Russia and China wielding veto power as permanent members. Russia has vetoed 16 Security Council Resolutions related to Syria, and it was backed by China on many of those occasions.
President Joe Biden's administration said last week that Assad had done nothing to restore his legitimacy, and it rejected any restoration of official ties with his government "anytime soon. In a statement marking a decade of civil war, U. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week that while Syria had fallen off front pages around the world, "the situation remains a living nightmare. Assad and his regime's war crimes. Please enter email address to continue.
Please enter valid email address to continue. Chrome Safari Continue. The US began backing rebel groups because it said Mr Assad was responsible for widespread atrocities. But in the last two years it been more focused on the battle against IS, and President Donald Trump suggested only days before Friday's missile strike that getting Mr Assad to leave power was no longer a priority for him.
Tuesday's suspected chemical attack appears to have changed everything. Read more to understand Syria's war. Why is there a war in Syria?
Syria 'chemical attack': What we know. Islamic State group: The full story. Islamic State and the crisis in Iraq and Syria in maps. Turkey v Syria's Kurds v Islamic State. Image source, AFP. The number of parties to Syria's civil war has multiplied over time.
But what's everyone doing in Syria? On the Syrian government's side, we have:. Russia carries out air strikes and provides political support at the UN Iran provides arms, credit, military advisers and reportedly combat troops Hezbollah The Lebanese Shia movement has sent thousands of fighters Shia Muslim militias recruited by Iran from Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen.
Turkey provides arms, military and political support Gulf Arab states provide money and weapons The US provides arms, training and military assistance to "moderate" groups Jordan provides logistical support and training. Wait, what?
0コメント