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Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Syrian Uprising Hits Two-Year Mark

Lauren Madow |
March 15, 2013 | 9:02 a.m. PDT

Executive Producer

The violent conflict between the Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, and rebels continues to rage after two years of fighting. 

The Syrian uprising began as a part of the larger calls for reform that comprised the Arab Spring movement. Unlike other leaders in the region who were quickly deposed, Assad has clung to power, ordering massacres on protesters and civilians in an attempt to put down the revolt. A mass exodus of millions of refugees are seeking safety in neighboring states.

Wounded civilians in Aleppo (Voice of America via Wikimedia Commons)
Wounded civilians in Aleppo (Voice of America via Wikimedia Commons)
Syria's civil war has become an international conflict, with sympathetic fighters from across the region entering Syria to fight, with some supporting the rebels and others supporting Assad's regime. The first rebel contingent trained by the US military in Jordan returned to Syria Thursday, and more are being trained now, reported CNN. The west has been slow to act on its professed support of the rebels.

ALSO SEE: Syrian Rebels Kidnap Over 20 UN Peacekeepers In Golan Heights

Events in Syria have been difficult to track precisely due in part to deadly conditions for journalists. The UN Supervision Mission in Syria, a project to monitor events on the ground, was forced to terminate its efforts due to safety concerns for its staff. Their video reportage can be found here.

ALSO SEE: U.S. Will Give Syrian Rebels $60 Million In Aid

For an in-depth timeline of the events in Syria, go here.

To read the International Committee of the Red Cross' assessment of the "catastrophic humanitarian situation," go here.

For Al-Jazeera's Syria live blog, go here.

For more Neon Tommy coverage of Syria, go here.

Reach Executive Producer Lauren Madow here. Follow her here.



 

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