demonstration
13 years of war in Syria: Thousands demonstrate against Assad
Thousands of people in Syria demonstrated against the government of ruler Bashar Al-Assad on the anniversary of the outbreak of war in the country. photo
© Anas Alkharboutli/dpa
The conflict in Syria began in 2011 with protests against the government of President Al-Assad. Now thousands are taking to the streets again to mark the anniversary – but there is still no solution in sight.
There were also demonstrations in other cities. In Asas in the north of the country, thousands of people gathered to protest after Friday prayers. They demanded the implementation of the revolution’s former goals, said one of the dpa participants. This includes overthrowing the Syrian “regime” and building a democratic state. They also demanded clarification about the fate of the many prisoners in government prisons.
The conflict in Syria began in mid-March 2011 with protests against the government of President Bashar Al-Assad. Security forces responded with violence. Everything ultimately resulted in a civil war with international participation.
Today the country is divided. With the help of his allies Russia, Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, Assad now controls two-thirds of the country again. The northwest is under the control of opposition forces. There is no political solution to the conflict in sight. According to United Nations estimates, more than 300,000 people have died in the war so far.