What is Happening in Syria

Syria Crisis

Syria descended into chaos following the 2011 anti-government protests which escalated into civil war. The war, which has been raging for more than six years, has claimed millions of lives. The war is being fought between various factions. These include the government of Syria and its allies, the Syrian Opposition, the Islamic State and the majority Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces. The US and its allies are also carrying out air strikes against the ISIS rebels. Russia, too, has launched air strikes in the region against terrorist groups. Many people have also been forced to move out their homes in search of safer places thereby leading to one of the largest refugee movements in recent history. It has been estimated that more than 11 million Syrians have fled.

Refugee crisis in Syria came under spotlight when searing images of the body of toddler Aylan washed ashore after the raft carrying his family capsized off the Turkish coast, galvanizing passionate debate worldwide. International response to the internal situation in Syria started unfolding with this. Terrorism, ISIS activity and Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad were at the forefront of the on-going UN General Assembly debate. So far avoiding plunging headlong into the Syrian crisis, Russia has begun pounding the hideouts of rebels in the West Asian country. This is the first ever instance of Moscow resorting to military action in the region. Given all this, we have decided to present in question and answer format a detail over the Syrian crisis and its political, economic, security and environmental impact across West Asia and the world.