End of Assad family rule in Syria

The people of Syria have celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad after a stunning rebel advance forced his government from power


2000: Bashar al-Assad inherits Syria’s presidency upon death of his father, Hafez, who seized power in 1970 coup

2011: Peaceful protests against Assad’s rule quickly escalate into civil war between government and rebel factions

2012: Assad launches air raids on rebel strongholds. War escalates with massacres on both sides

2013: Washington declares chemical weapons use a “red line,” but gas attack near Damascus that kills scores of civilians does not trigger U.S. military response

2014: So-called Islamic State (IS) declares its “caliphate” in areas it controls in Syria and Iraq

2015: Russia joins the war on Assad’s side with airstrikes aiming to reverse rebel gains

2016: Turkish forces cross into northern Syria, capturing areas along border from IS militants

2017: U.S. fires barrage of cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for suspected nerve gas attack on rebel- held town of Khan Sheikhoun

2018: Syrian government forces take control of all Damascus suburbs, securing Assad’s seat of power

2019: U.S.-backed Syrian forces declare defeat of IS

2020: Ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey de-escalates intensity of fighting. Assad holds most territory and all main cities, but rebels control northwest

2022: UN says more than 300,000 civilians have been killed in decade of Syrian conflict

Dec 2024: Rebels sweep into Damascus less than two weeks after launching surprise offensive against government forces in northwest. Assad reportedly flees to Moscow


Sources: AP, Reuters 
Pictures: Getty Images, Wikimedia Commons 
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