Now in its 10th year, the Syrian conflict has led to more than 500,000 deaths and displaced an estimated 13 million—over half of Syria's pre-war population. Over 6.2 million Syrians are internally displaced, and 5.6 million are refugees, predominantly in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey.
The Syrian refugee crisis is the result of a March 2011 violent government crackdown on public demonstrations in support of a group of teenagers who were arrested for anti-government graffiti in the southern town of Daraa. As violence increased, families began to flee.
More than 12,000 suspected IS members are now being held by Kurdish forces. The situation is very complicated because other countries have got involved in the conflict. The Syrian government's key supporters are Russia and Iran, while the US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia backed the rebels.
Vegetation degradation and soil erosion are among the greatest environmental impacts caused by the Syrian Civil War. The war has caused the displacement of 13 million people, 8 million being internally displaced.
The majority of ISIL-controlled territory, though much-diminished, continues to be in eastern Syria, in addition to isolated pockets elsewhere in the country. The majority of the Caliphate's territory, population, revenue, and prestige came from the territory it held in Iraq and Syria.
The ongoing conflict in Syria is widely described as a series of overlapping proxy wars between the regional and world powers, primarily between the US and Russia as well as between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
In mid-January 2018, the Trump administration indicated its intention to maintain an open-ended military presence in Syria to counter Iran's influence and oust Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed during in a U.S. special forces raid in Barisha, Idlib in October 2019.
New diplomatic relations established in November 2006, were heralded as the beginning of an era of close cooperation between Iraq and Syria. Both countries fought against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In the Syrian Civil War, Iraqi volunteers have been fighting in Syria alongside the Syrian Army.
Formerly Syria's economic hub, Aleppo had an estimated pre-war population of about two million. About one million people are now living in the west, in comparative safety.
Sunni Islam is the main religion in Syria. The Great Mosque of Aleppo consists of pre-Islamic, Seljuk, and Mamluk architectural styles.
Official Syrian censuses.
| Religion | Population |
|---|
| Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriacs | Syriac Orthodox | 40 135 |
| Syriac Catholics | 16 247 |
| Chaldeans | 9 176 |
| "Nestorians" | 4 719 |
Aleppo enters the warThose against the Syrian government (the rebels) mainly had control of the east of the city, while the government soldiers had control of the west. However, towards the end of 2016, government troops launched attacks against the rebels to try to win control of the whole city.
At least 6.2 million Syrians are internally displaced, while another 5.7 million have fled abroad. Much of Syria's rich cultural heritage has also been destroyed. All six of the country's six Unesco World Heritage sites have been damaged significantly. Entire neighbourhoods have been levelled across the country.
Estimates of the total number of deaths in the Syrian Civil War, by opposition activist groups, vary between 384,000 and about 577,660 as of May 2020. On 23 April 2016, the United Nations and Arab League Envoy to Syria put out an estimate of 400,000 that had died in the war.
The CIA World Factbook showed an estimated 19,454,263 people as of July 2018. Most modern-day Syrians are described as Arabs by virtue of their modern-day language and bonds to Arab culture and history. Genetically, Syrian Arabs are a blend of various Semitic-speaking groups indigenous to the region.
Poverty persistsThe United Nations estimates that over 64% of Syrian households in cities live close to or below the poverty line. The challenge to Turkey in hosting such a large refugee population goes beyond temporary humanitarian assistance, to the social and economic future of the country.
- Donate or Volunteer With the International Rescue Committee. The International Rescue Committee works globally and has been providing critical humanitarian aid to Syrians since 2012.
- Donate to International Red Cross.
- Donate to the White Helmets.
Syrian applicants may apply for non-immigrant visas at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and the same standards under U.S. law and policy apply at each U.S. Embassy and Consulate where one applies for a visa. Syrian applicants may apply for immigrant visas at the U.S. Embassies in Amman, Jordan or Beirut, Lebanon.
What is a legitimate purpose? Travelling to al-Raqqa province to visit friends or for business or religious purposes are not legitimate purposes for travel to the area. The Australian Government strongly advises against travel to Syria because of the extremely dangerous security situation.
What's so important about Idlib? The province - along with parts of Hama, Latakia and Aleppo - is the last stronghold of the rebel and jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011. Idlib is also strategically important to the government.
Neither U.S. passports nor visas to the United States are issued in Syria. U.S. citizens in Syria who seek consular services should contact the U.S. Interests Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Damascus at USIS_damascus@embassy.mzv.cz.
Refugees of the Syrian Civil War
| Population 21 ±.5: Displaced 6 ±.5, Refugee 5.5 ±.5, Casualty 0.5 ±.1 (millions) |
| Syrian refugees |
|---|
| By country | Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt |
| Settlements | Camps: (Jordan) |
| Displaced Syrians |
