The Syrian Civil War (Essay Sample)

The Syrian Civil War Name Institution Course Instructor Date The Syrian Civil War The Syrian Civil War is frequently cited as a proxy conflict with many aspects that are not immediately evident and easy to pin down. When one can fully understand the complexity of this multi-faceted conflict, it results in an understanding of how it could have been prevented. This paper will attempt to pull back the veil on this third-party civil war by focusing on Russia and the United States' impact on Syria from a third-party's perspective. The Syrian Civil War began in 2011 due to the Arab Spring, a series of uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa. The Syrian conflict quickly became a civil war, with the government of Bashar al-Assad fighting against a number of opposition groups (Corstange, 2022). Outside forces have significantly impacted the course of the war, with various countries providing support to one side or another. The United States has been one of the most active players in the Syrian conflict. Beginning in early 2011, the United States began providing arms and ammunition to Syrian rebels, a policy that continued throughout the conflict. However, the United States also significantly negotiated an agreement between Assad and the opposition in September 2015. This agreement, known as the Geneva Agreement, called for withdrawing Assad's forces from certain areas and establishing a transitional government. Since the agreement, however, Assad has continued to rule Syria with an increasingly authoritarian regime. Different countries provided support to one side or another. The United States has been one of the most active players in the Syrian conflict. Beginning in early 2011, the United States started providing arms and ammunition to Syrian rebels, a policy that continued throughout the conflict. However, the United States also significantly negotiated an agreement between Assad and the opposition in September 2015. This agreement, known as the Geneva Agreement, called for withdrawing Assad's forces from certain areas and establishing a transitional government. Since the agreement, however, Assad has continued to rule Syria with an increasingly authoritarian regime. Syria is a country in Western Asia, bordering Turkey to the northeast, Iraq and Iran to the east, Jordan and Israel to the south, and Libya to the west. The country has a population of over 20 million people. The capital and largest city are Damascus. Syria was initially ruled by the Ottoman Empire from 1516 to 1918 before becoming a French protectorate in 1920. In 1958, Syria became an independent republic. The Syrian Civil War is a civil war that began in March 2011, with demonstrations against Assad's rule reportedly sparked by the killing of several hundred protesters at the hands of security forces. The war has since spread into a wider conflict involving multiple countries, with more than 350,000 people killed as of 2018 (Phillips, 2022). The Syrian Civil War began with protests against President Bashar al-Assad's rule. Assad's government responded with a military crackdown that escalated into a full-scale civil war. Since then, the government has waged war against various opposition groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), al-Qaeda, and other rebel factions. The war has caused a massive humanitarian crisis in Syria, with more than 11 million people displaced and over four million refugees. In October 2018, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution calling for Assad to be removed from power, with a timeline for his departure set until 2031. Assad remains in power and has not responded to the resolution (Haji-Yousefi, 2021). Assad's rule has been marked by human rights abuses, including torture and summary executions. The Syrian government also restricts freedom of speech, assembly, and association. Assad's economy is heavily reliant on oil and natural gas exports. In response to the humanitarian crisis, several U.N. agencies have launched programs to help Syrians displaced by the war. These include the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO). On October 22, 2018, U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura announced that a new round of peace talks will be held in Geneva to try to resolve the conflict. However, there is no clear timeline for when these talks will begin. Syria was once one of the most prosperous countries in the Middle East. However, the war has caused massive economic and social damage. The government's dependence on oil and natural gas exports has made the country one of the most vulnerable to market fluctuations. In addition, the war has caused a significant increase in food prices and a decline in tourism. The Syrian government has been unable to provide essential services, including healthcare and education. The war has also caused a large increase in the number of refugees and displaced people. As a result, humanitarian organizations have had to respond to the Needs Assessment of the Syrian People report. The U.N. has launched several programs to help Syrians displaced by the war. These include the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, the U.N. has launched the Syria Emergency Relief Plan (SERP). This program provides humanitarian assistance to Syrians in need. It includes food security, health care, shelter, and water and sanitation programs. The U.N. has also launched the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). This program provides funding to humanitarian organizations to support their work in Syria. It includes programs to address emergency relief, health, education, and early recovery. The U.N. also supports the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). This organization provides humanitarian assistance to Syrians in need. It includes food security, health care, shelter, and water and sanitation programs. The U.N. has also launched the Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (HRAP). This program provides funding to humanitarian organizations to support their work in Syria. It includes programs to address emergency relief, health, education, and early recovery. The Syrian Civil War is an ongoing conflict, characterized by armed revolt against the government of Bashar Al-Assad, that has been going on for years. The war began in 2011 as protests for greater freedoms and democracy but was soon taken over by violent military groups and radical Islamic extremists. Unfortunately, many Americans have limited knowledge of this war to the stories. This is a third-party conflict between two separate groups. The people in power in Syria are not Assad but his fellow Ba'athists, who have ruled the country for decades (Phillips, 2022). The people of Syria have been fighting for years to overthrow these Syrian leaders and replace them with their own, not to invade or attack other countries. The war is a third-party conflict between the Syrians fighting to take over their country and the Ba'athists trying to keep control of it. Western media coverage report that Assad's government is against the "revolution" and that the rebels are "revolting" against his tyranny and oppression. They also give a false sense of what's happening in the country, and there are many other ways that this media often gets it wrong. The picture looks pretty different. The reality is that there are two groups of people in Syria who are both fighting to take control over their country: the Syrian rebels who want to overthrow the Assad government, and Assad's Ba'athist regime which wants to keep power. According to the West, Assad's government must be on the side of evil, and his opponent must be the heroic rebels struggling for freedom. In reality, this is not only wrong but also extremely unhelpful for understanding what's happening in Syria. The Syrian civil war is a third-party conflict because right now it is being fought by two separate sides, each with its own goals and desires. The war is being fought between the Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, and various opposition groups. The main opposition groups are the Syrian National Coalition, which comprises multiple political parties and factions, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), an extremist group that has taken control of large parts of Syria. The third party involved in the Syrian Civil War in Russia. In September 2015, Russia launched a military campaign in support of the Assad government and had since been a major player in the conflict. Russia has used its air power and military advisers to help the Assad government regain control of key areas of Syria (Oligie, 2019). The impact of third-party involvement in the Syrian Civil War is complex and multi-layered. On the one hand, Russia's military campaign has helped the Assad government regain control of key areas of Syria. This has allowed the Assad government to continue its brutal crackdown on the Syrian population, which has led to an estimated 300,000 deaths. On the other hand, Russia's involvement in the conflict has made it difficult for the Assad government to win the war and has led to a rise in Russian casualties (Haji-Yousefi, 2021). The Syrian Civil War has been raging for over five years and has seen the involvement of many different countries. Among these are Turkey, Russia, and the United States, who have all played significant roles in the conflict. The involvement of these third parties has had a significant impact on the conflict, both in terms of its duration and intensity. Turkey, for example, has been a major supporter of the rebels, while Russia has been more involved in airstrikes and military support for the government (Goren, 2018). The United States, meanwhile, has been a significant supplier of weapons and aid to both sides. The S...