Civil uprising phase of the Syrian Civil War

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Civil uprising prior to the Syrian

Civil War
Part of Syrian Civil War and the Arab Spring

Demonstration in Homs against Syrian

Government (18 April 2011).
15 March 2011 28 July 2011
Date (some major protests continued into
August)

Location

Causes

Syria

Government corruption[1]

Unemployment

Islamist uprising in Syria

(Muslim Brotherhood)

Resignation of Bashar alAssad[2][3]

Democratic reforms[4]

Regime change[5]

Expanded civil rights[6]

Abolition of the Supreme

State Security Court

Lifting of the emergency

Goals

law[7]

Methods

Equal rights for Kurds

Civil resistance

Demonstrations

Army defections

Peaceful protests ended and

Status deteriorated into an armed rebellion
and later full-scale civil war
Lead figures
Syrian
government:
Syrian
opposition:

Local
Coordination
Committees of
Syria
Civilian
protesters

Anti-regime
militants [8]

Muslim
Brotherhood of
Syria[9]

Bashar alAssad

Maher alAssad

Ali Habib
Mahmud

Syrian Army

Syrian Navy

Assad loyalist
militants

Syrian Police

Shabiha

Casualties
1,800 -2,154[14] civilians and
406[15]-500[16] security forces killed
Death(s)
(by 17 August)
Total: 2,206-2,654
Thousands of protesters[10]
Injuries
1,300[11]-1,857[12] security forces
[13]

Arrested 12,617 (by 28 July)[17]

[show]

Syrian Civil War

[show]

Civil uprising
in Syria (MarchAugust 2011)
The civil uprising prior to the Syrian Civil War was an early stage of protests with
subsequent violent reaction by the Syrian state lasting from March to 28 July 2011. The
uprising, initially demanding democratic reforms, evolved from initially minor protests,
beginning as early as January 2011.
The uprising was marked by massive anti-government opposition demonstrations against the
Ba'athist government of Bashar al-Assad, meeting with police and military violence, massive
arrests and brutal crackdown, resulting in hundreds of casualties and thousands of wounded.
Other non-western narratives describe militants firing on police and security forces during
peaceful protests as part of foreign sponsored insurrections.
Despite Bashar al-Assad's attempts to pacify the protests with massive crackdown and use of
censorship on one hand and concessions on the other, by the end of April, it became clear the
situation was getting out of his control and the Syrian government deployed numerous troops
on the ground.
The civil uprising phase created the platform for emergence of militant opposition
movements and massive defections from the Syrian Army, which gradually transformed the
conflict from a civil uprising to an armed rebellion, and later a civil war. The rebel Free
Syrian Army was created on July 29, 2011.

Contents

1 Background

2 Civil uprising (JanuaryJuly 2011)

o 2.1 March 2011 unrest

o 2.2 Crackdown
o 2.3 Concessions

2.3.1 Further reforms

o 2.4 Military operations

2.4.1 April 2011

2.4.2 May 2011

2.4.3 JuneJuly 2011

3 Reporting, censoring, propaganda

4 See also

5 References

Background
See also: Syrian Civil War Background

The Syrian Independence flag used by the Syrian opposition

Before the uprising in Syria began in mid-March 2011, protests were relatively modest,
considering the wave of unrest that was spreading across the Arab world. Syria until March
2011 for decades had remained superficially tranquil, largely due to fear among the people of
the secret police arresting critical citizens.[18]
Minor protests calling for government reforms began in January, and continued into March.
Unrelenting protests were occurring in Cairo against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and
in Syria on 3 February via the websites Facebook and Twitter, a "Day of Rage" was called for
by activists against the government of Bashar al-Assad to be held on Friday, 4 February.[19]
This did not result in protests. Yet it is said that on the night of Mubaraks February 11
downfall,[20] the graffiti was seen under a Damascus bridge, Now its your turn, doctor in
reference to President al-Assad, an eye doctor by training.[21]

Civil uprising (JanuaryJuly 2011)

March 2011 unrest

Main article: Timeline of the Syrian civil war (JanuaryApril 2011)

Demonstration in Homs against Assad.

Major unrest began on 15 March in Damascus and Aleppo, yet in the southern city of Daraa,
sometimes called the "Cradle of the Revolution",[22] protests had been triggered on 6 March
by the incarceration and torture of 15 young students from prominent families who were
arrested for writing anti-government graffiti in the city,[23][24][25] reading: ""
("The people want the fall of the regime") a trademark slogan of the Arab Spring.[26]
Demonstrators clashed with local police, and confrontations escalated on 18 March after
Friday prayers. Security forces attacked protesters gathered at the Omari Mosque using water
cannons and tear gas, followed by live fire, killing four.[27][28]
On 20 March, a mob burned down the Ba'ath Party headquarters and other public buildings.
Security forces quickly responded, firing live ammunition at crowds, and attacking the focal
points of the demonstrations. The two-day assault resulted in the deaths of fifteen protesters.
[29]

Meanwhile, minor protests occurred elsewhere in the country. Protesters demanded the
release of political prisoners, the abolition of Syria's 48-year emergency law, more freedoms,
and an end to pervasive government corruption.[30] The events led to a "Friday of Dignity" on
18 March, when large-scale protests broke out in several cities, including Banias, Damascus,
al-Hasakah, Daraa, Deir az-Zor, and Hama. Police responded to the protests with tear gas,
water cannons, and beatings. At least 6 people were killed and many others injured.[31]
On 25 March, mass protests spread nationwide, as demonstrators emerged after Friday
prayers.[29] Over 100,000 people reportedly marched in Daraa,[32] and at least 20 protesters
were reportedly killed by security forces. Protests subsequently spread to other Syrian cities,
including Homs, Hama, Baniyas, Jasim, Aleppo, Damascus and Latakia. Over 70 protesters
in total were reported killed.[33]

Demonstration in Douma, a Damascus suburb, against the Assad government on 8 April 2011

Crackdown
Main article: Syrian reactions to the Syrian civil war

Riot police in Damascus

Even before the uprising began, the Syrian government had made numerous arrests of
political dissidents and human rights campaigners, many of whom were labeled "terrorists"
by the Assad government. In early February 2011, authorities arrested several activists,
including political leaders Ghassan al-Najar,[34] Abbas Abbas,[35] and Adnan Mustafa.[36]
Police and security forces responded to the protests violently, not only using water cannons
and tear gas, but also beating protesters and firing live ammunition.[37]
As the uprising began, the Syrian government waged a campaign of arrests that captured tens
of thousands of people, according to lawyers and activists in Syria and human rights groups.
In response to the uprising, Syrian law had been changed to allow the police and any of the
nation's 18 security forces to detain a suspect for eight days without a warrant. Arrests
focused on two groups: political activists, and men and boys from the towns that the Syrian
Army would start to besiege in April.[38] Many of those detained experienced ill-treatment.
Many detainees were cramped in tight rooms and were given limited resources, and some
were beaten, electrically jolted, or debilitated. At least 27 torture centers run by Syrian
intelligence agencies were revealed by Human Rights Watch on 3 July 2012.[39]
President Assad characterized the opposition as armed terrorist groups with Islamist "takfiri"
extremist motives, portraying himself as the last guarantee for a secular form of government.
[40]
Early in the month of April, a large deployment of security forces prevented tent
encampments in Latakia. Blockades were set up in several cities to prevent the movement of
protests. Despite the crackdown, widespread protests continued throughout the month in
Daraa, Baniyas, Al-Qamishli, Homs, Douma and Harasta.[41]

Concessions
Main article: Timeline of the Syrian civil war (JanuaryApril 2011)
Opposition demonstration in Baniyas
During March and April, the Syrian government, hoping to alleviate the unrest, offered
political reforms and policy changes. Authorities shortened mandatory army conscription,[42]

and in an apparent attempt to reduce corruption, fired the governor of Daraa.[43] The
government announced it would release political prisoners, cut taxes, raise the salaries of
public sector workers, provide more press freedoms, and increase job opportunities.[44] Many
of these announced reforms were never implemented.[45]
The government, dominated by the Alawite sect, made some concessions to the majority
Sunni and some minority populations. Authorities reversed a ban that restricted teachers from
wearing the niqab, and closed the country's only casino.[46] The government also granted
citizenship to thousands of Syrian Kurds previously labeled "foreigners".[47] Following
Bahrain's example, the Syrian government held a two-day national dialogue in July, in
attempt to alleviate the crisis. The dialogue was a chance to discuss the democratic reforms
and other issues, however many of the opposition leaders and protest leaders refused to attend
citing that continuing crackdown on protesters in streets.[48][49]
A popular demand from protesters was an end of the nation's state of emergency, which had
been in effect for nearly 50 years. The emergency law had been used to justify arbitrary
arrests and detention, and to ban political opposition. After weeks of debate, Assad signed the
decree on 21 April, lifting Syria's state of emergency.[50] However, anti-government protests
continued into April, with activists unsatisfied with what they considered vague promises of
reform from Assad.[51]
Further reforms
During the course of the civil war, there have been some political changes towards the
electoral process and the constitution.
Main article: Syrian constitutional referendum, 2012
Main article: Syrian local elections, 2011
Main article: Syrian presidential election, 2014

Military operations
Main articles: Timeline of the Syrian civil war (JanuaryApril 2011) and Timeline of the
Syrian civil war (MayAugust 2011)
April 2011
As the unrest continued, the Syrian government began launching major military operations to
suppress resistance, signaling a new phase in the uprising. On 25 April, Daraa, which had
become a focal point of the uprising, was one of the first cities to be besieged by the Syrian
Army. An estimated hundreds to 6,000 soldiers were deployed, firing live ammunition at
demonstrators and searching house to house for protestors, arresting hundreds.[52][53] Tanks
were used for the first time against demonstrators, and snipers took positions on rooftops.
[citation needed]
Mosques used as headquarters for demonstrators and organizers were especially
targeted.[52] Security forces began shutting off water, power and phone lines, and confiscating
flour and food. Clashes between the army and opposition forces, which included armed
protestors and defected soldiers, led to the death of hundreds.[53][54] By 5 May, most of the
protests had been suppressed, and the military began pulling out of Daraa, with some troops
remaining to keep the situation under control.[citation needed]

May 2011
During the crackdown in Daraa, the Syrian Army also besieged and blockaded several towns
around Damascus. Throughout May, situations similar to those that occurred in Daraa were
reported in other besieged towns and cities, such as Baniyas, Homs, Talkalakh, Latakia, and
several other towns.[55] After the end of each siege, violent suppression of sporadic protests
continued throughout the following months.[56] By 24 May, the names of 1,062 people killed
in the uprising since mid-March had been documented by the National Organization for
Human Rights in Syria.[57]
JuneJuly 2011
As the uprising progressed, opposition fighters became better equipped and more organized.
Until September 2011, about two senior military or security officers defected to the
opposition.[58] Some analysts stated that these defections were signs of Assad's weakening
inner circle.[59][citation needed]
The first instance of armed insurrection occurred on 4 June 2011 in Jisr ash-Shugur, a city
near the Turkish border in Idlib province. Angry protesters set fire to a building where
security forces had fired on a funeral demonstration. Eight security officers died in the fire as
demonstrators took control of a police station, seizing weapons. Clashes between protesters
and security forces continued in the following days. Some security officers defected after
secret police and intelligence agents executed soldiers who refused to shoot civilians. On 6
June, Sunni militiamen and army defectors ambushed a group of security forces heading to
the city which was met by a large government counterattack. Fearing a massacre, insurgents
and defectors, along with 10,000 residents, fled across the Turkish border.[29]
In June and July 2011, protests continued as government forces expanded operations,
repeatedly firing at protesters, employing tanks against demonstrations, and conducting
arrests. The towns of Rastan and Talbiseh, and Maarat al-Numaan were besieged in early
June.[60] On 30 June, large protests erupted against the Assad government in Aleppo, Syria's
largest city.[61] On 3 July, Syrian tanks were deployed to Hama, two days after the city
witnessed the largest demonstration against Bashar al-Assad.[62]
On 29 July, a group of defected officers announced the formation of the Free Syrian Army
(FSA). Composed of defected Syrian Armed Forces personnel, the rebel army seeks to
remove Bashar al-Assad and his government from power.

Poster published 23 March 2011 on social networking websites urging Syrians to demonstrate
During the first six months of the uprising, the inhabitants of Syria's two largest cities,
Damascus and Aleppo, remained largely uninvolved in the anti-government protests.[63] The
two cities' central squares have seen organized rallies of hundreds of thousands in support of
president Assad and his government.[64]

Reporting, censoring, propaganda

Main article: Reporting, censoring and propaganda in the Syrian Civil War
Reporting on this conflict was difficult and dangerous from the start: journalists were being
attacked, detained, reportedly tortured and killed. Technical facilities (internet, telephone etc.)
were being sabotaged by the Syrian government.[citation needed] Both sides in this conflict tried to
disqualify their opponent by framing or referring to them with negative labels and terms, or
by presenting false evidence.
Consecutive events from 29 July 2011 are to be found in: Syrian civil war#Protests
and armed insurgency (JulyOctober 2011)