+ Bashar al-Assad has ruled Syria as president since July 2000. His father, Hafez al-Assad, ruled Syria from 1970-2000.
+ The ongoing violence has been condemned by the Arab League, the European Union, the United States and other countries.
+ Modern Syria gained its independence from France in 1946, but has lived through periods of political instability driven by the conflicting interests of various opposing political groups.
+ Syria’s conflict began with peaceful anti-government protests in March 2011, part of a wave of popular opposition to authoritarian regimes across the Arab world. It evolved into a sectarian war after President Bashar al-Assad’s troops fired on demonstrators.
+ The ongoing violence has been condemned by the Arab League, the European Union, the United States and other countries.
+ Modern Syria gained its independence from France in 1946, but has lived through periods of political instability driven by the conflicting interests of various opposing political groups.
+ Syria’s conflict began with peaceful anti-government protests in March 2011, part of a wave of popular opposition to authoritarian regimes across the Arab world. It evolved into a sectarian war after President Bashar al-Assad’s troops fired on demonstrators.