Civil war timeline

How the conflict has developed

Mar 2011 Protests in Daraa after boys are arrested for painting anti-government graffiti on the walls of their school. Security forces open fire on a protest, killing four people, and demonstrations spread. Mar 21, 2012 After a year of brutal crackdowns and stiffening rebel resistance, the UN estimates more than 8,000 people have died. Aug 20, 2012 As the civil war escalates between Bashar al-Assad and the rebels, Barack Obama says the use of chemical weapons in Syria would be a “red line” for the United States. Aug 21, 2013 Hundreds suffocate in sarin gas attack on Eastern Ghouta, a rebel-held suburb of Damascus. Western governments blame Assad’s regime. Aug 29 Commons votes (right) not to authorise UK military retaliation against Assad. Two days later, Obama shelves plans for punitive airstrikes. Sept 14 Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and US secretary of state John Kerry announce a surprise deal to force Syria to give up its chemical weapons.

June 30, 2014 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) declares caliphate in eastern Syria and western Iraq. Sept 23 The United States launches airstrikes on Isil targets in Syria and days later MPs approve RAF strikes in Iraq. Sept 30, 2015 Russia enters war on the side of Assad, quickly turning the tide in the regime’s favour. Dec 2, 2015 David Cameron wins a vote to allow the RAF to bomb Isil in Syria after Labour rebels back the government. Dec 13, 2016 Rebel-held East Aleppo (right) falls to Syrian government forces, in a major victory for Assad. April 4, 2017 Western governments blame Syrian regime for deaths of at least 86 people, including 30 children, in a nerve gas attack in Khan Sheikhoun in the rebel-held Idlib province. April 6 US warships fire 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian airbase from which the chemical attack is believed to have been launched.