Political Science: Syrian Civil War - Term Paper Example

Syrian Civil War (Political Science) INTRODUCTION The Syrian Civil War primarily identified by the of Syrian uprising is a continuing conflict that is taking place in Syria. It is regarded as one of the most brutal conflicts involving arms and ammunitions which began on 15th March, 2011. This conflict is still continuing to persist and the conflict became so serious that its awareness grew nationwide in the month of April, 2011. These demonstrations were the primary parts of the wide Middle Eastern protests and movements that were most commonly known as Arab Spring. Different protesters were seen to mandate the resignation of the President of Syria named Bashar al-Assad. His family was responsible for holding the presidency since the year 1971 in Syria. It was also demanded to end the Baath Party regulation, which came into being in the year 1963 (Deeb 1-70; Asseburg and Wimmen 1-7). The above section provided a brief snapshot regarding the conflict and also the instances for which it got originated. Further evaluation of different studies will depict different instances of the conflict and the diverse twists and turns which the war took over the years. The study will precisely highlight the different types of weapons that were used in the war. In addition, it will also shed light on the various attacks that were planted and the divulging information about the different entities along with the affiliated parties who were involved in the war. THESIS STATEMENT This paper intends to explore the various integrated factors behind the long drawn periods of Syrian Civil War. In order to evaluate the critical factors, a comprehensive evaluation of the adversities associated with the Syrian Civil War will be ascertained. BACKGROUND OF THE WAR Syria was considered as an independent republic in the year 1946, though the self-governing rule was called for an end courtesy of by a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) support coup in March 1949, followed by two more coups that year. A popular uprising against the military rule in the year 1954 marked the army’s contribution to transfer of power to the civilians during the period beginning from 1958 to 1961. Contextually, it can be critically analyzed that during that particular period a lot of revolutions was made as a brief union with Egypt skillfully replaced Syrias parliamentary system with an extremely federalized presidential regime. It can also be critically emphasized that the factors of great power and monarch as the supremacy of Baath Syrian Regional Branch came into authority in the year 1964 after a successful coup détat. In the year 1966, another coup overthrew the conventional leaders of the party, Salah al-Din al-Bitar and Michel Aflaq. Moreover, Hafez al-Assad, who was the Defense Minister, held authority in a "corrective revolution" in the month of November 1970 and became the prime minister. In the month of March, 1971, Assad confirmed himself as the president. It was the particular position that he was going to hold till the time of his death in the year 2000. Since the event, the secular Regional Branch of Syria has continued to be the dominant political power in a fundamental single-party state in Syria. Syrian citizens were seen to agree to the President by way of referendum and also for the fact that the government controlled the combined 2012 parliamentary vote and did not entertain votes in multi-party elections for the government (Deeb 1-150; Kohn 1-80). CRITICAL EVALUATION AND ARGUMENT OF THE STUDY After a thorough determination of the above instances, it can be critically argued that there were numerous ways of weapons that were used in the Syrian Civil war. Moreover, all the attacks that were carried out with the help of the below mentioned weapons had created a large amount of havoc and were also responsible for taking out the lives of many. All those instances of such events are cited below: Chemical Weapons Used. The government of Syria has been indicted on a number of occasions for carrying out numerous chemical attacks. Ghouta attacks that were carried in the year 2013 itself were considered to the most serious of the incidents. Most of the incidents were carried out from the part of the rebels who had been held responsible for executing several chemical assaults as well. The most serious of the chemical attacks was the Khan al-Assal assault. This particular attack took place during the month of March 2013 and was primarily accounted against the Syrian State News Agency (SANA). Deadly missiles that contained "chemical materials" were fired into the district of Khan al-Assal in Al Atebeh suburbs of Damascus and Aleppo, resulting in killing of around 25 individuals. Both the sides i.e. the rebels and the government of Syria immediately put the blame on each other for executing the attack, but neither of the sides were able to present clear documentations regarding the evidences. Russian experts paid visit to the particular site and were able to find various samples that assigned the prime responsibility of the attack to the rebels. Based on the incidents, United Nations weapons examiners also had to schedule a visit in the particular site (Kohn 1-150; Rabil 1-150). On the month of April 29, 2013 another chemical assault was accounted, in Saraqib. Due to the incident, a total of 13 persons were deeply injured and two of them lost their lives. Subsequently, on 5th May, several doctors hailing from Turkey claimed that the opening test did not show any signs of Sarin which were found in the blood test of the victims. A team of French intelligence obtained urine, blood and munitions related samples from the fatalities along with the places of attacks on Saraqeb. The tests were also carried out in Jobar in mid of April 2013. However, the later analysis specified the use of Sarin. With regard to this aspect, it can be argued that life was becoming miserable in Syria (Kohn 1-150; Rabil 1-150). Cluster Bombs. Based on the critical analysis, it has been found that the Syrian army was responsible for using cluster bombs to a very large extent in the month of September, 2012. It has also been leant that Syria was looking forward to mass expansion and usage of cluster munitions in a relentless manner. It is also observed that Steve Goose who was the director of the Arms division at Human Rights Watch declared that Syria was also utilizing banned weapons and numerous civilians were paying high prices in terms of saving their lives. In addition, there were other activities that were secretly carried out to create mass destruction as well as for executing all round havoc. From the above discussions, it can be argued that Syria was solely responsible for performing numerous activities that reflected upon mass destruction. However, this particular aspect can again be counter argued with reference to the fact that all those activities that were carried out from the part of Syria not only reflected upon cluster bombs but also the usage of deadliest of the chemical weapons, resulting in mass killings (Kohn 1-150; Rabil 1-150). Scud missile attacks. In the month of December 2012, Syrian government actively got involved in using Scud missiles on those particular towns that were held by rebels, the prime target being Aleppo. On 19th of February, four of the deadliest Scud missiles were seen to create mass destruction as three of them were open fired which caused devastation in Aleppo city. One of the missiles was fired on the town of Tell Rifaat, Aleppo governorate. Between the periods of December-February, around 40 of the deadliest Scud missile assaults had been primarily reported. The Scud missiles were responsible for killing at least 141 people in the particular month i.e. February. However, the United States condemned a few of the attacks executed by the Scud missile. On the first of March, a Scud missile was seen to land in Iraq which created mass devastation. It was assumed that the prime intention behind the attacks was to strike Deir ez-Zor Governorate. On 29th March, another Scud missile landed on Hretan, Aleppotha which was responsible for taking out the lives of 20 along with injuring 50. On 28th April, one more Scud missile fell on Tell Rifaat, which killed four, two of the victims were children and the other two were women, as reported. On 3rd June, a missile which was not regarded as a Scud missile, hit the community of Kafr Hamrah at the time of midnight which killed at least 26 people that included eight children as well as six women (Kohn 1-150; Rabil 1-150). Based on the above instances of attacks, it can be critically analyzed and ascertained that the attacks were much severe as they involved mass killings of people which were primarily executed through the Scud missiles. However, the attacks did not stop and instances of suicide bombings also created much havoc. Cases of Suicide Bombings. The instances of suicide bombings began in the month of December, 2011. Al-Nusra Front was the particular group which solely responsible for the multiple suicide bombings in the month of April in the year 2013. Altogether a sum total 70 attacks of suicide bombings took place during that particular month. The main targets behind the attacks were government officials. However, the bombings also took away the lives of several civilians. It was however declared by the Syrian army that total preparation was made for condemning the suicidal bombings and a total of 8,000 soldiers were present in the particular event of NATO military intercession that also included 13 kamikaze pilots. Based on this particular scenario, it can critically be argued that the Syrian army had created variable amount of efforts pertaining to condemning any kind of instances which involved suicidal bombings in the particular event (Kohn 25-120; Rabil 1-150). The Various Affiliated Parties Involved. The Shabiha are the private pro-government armed force that originated from Assads Alawite minority group. Since the rebellion, the Syrian rule has often used Shabiha for the purpose of breaking up numerous protests and also for enforcing various laws in uneasy neighborhoods. As the protests were getting escalated into an armed clash, the opposition commenced using the expression ‘Shabiha’ for designating any national who supported Assad and those who took part in the governments attack on the rebellion (Kohn 60-150; Rabil 1-150; Abraham 1-70). COUNTER ARGUMENTS There were different instances of events that seemed to shake the Syrian region. The majority of adversities were created due to the mass extent of destruction that was created by a number of the deadliest weapons in the world. However, these adversities that resulted in mass killings could have been controlled to a certain extent if the instances were forecasted as per the past incidents in the particular region. All the instances relating to suicidal bombings could have been foiled to a certain extent if the military was fully aware of the prevalence of such horrific attacks. For example, there were numerous occurrences of adverse situations apparently observed. Moreover, if the affiliated parties such as Shabiha and Hezbollah fought diligently then things could have been different. In this particular context, the aspect of defense of Syria can again be counter argued in terms of the fact that those attacks taking place in the country’s horizon could not have been foiled as easily as there were many anti-affiliated parties who had their dreadful parts in the war (Kohn 1-150; Rabil 1-150). Syrian National Council (SNC). This group was primarily formed on 23rd August, 2011. It is the alliance of anti-government party which is based in Turkey. At that particular time, the National Council was seeking for ending the rule of Bashar al-Assad and was also not favoring the organization of a democratic, modern and a civil state. SNC has connections with the Free Syrian Army (Deeb 1-100; Cordesman 1-150). Mujahideen. In the month of September, 2013, the United States Secretary of the State John Kerry declared that terrorist factions constitute a total of 15–25 percent of the rebel forces. However, it is learnt that the rebel groups that account for approximately 59% of the total rebel force have declared that Sharia law needs to be the only basis of legislation. Foreign fighters were also seen to join the clash in battle against Assad. Most of them being jihadists, several individuals such as Mahdi al-Harati were also seen to act against Syria along with creating oppositions. Thus, taking this particular aspect into consideration, it can very well be counter argued that Syria has been jeopardized and is making a lot of enemies (Abraham 1-70; Deeb 1-100; Cordesman 1-150). Al-Nusra Front. The Al-Nusra Front is determined to be as one of the biggest jihadist assemblies in the entire Syria. This particular group is often regarded as the most hostile and aggressive division in opposition to Syria. This group is primarily accountable for more than 50 suicide bombings that include numerous lethal explosions in the years 2011 and 2012 in Damascus. It is solely demarcated as a terrorist association by the Syrian government and was designated the same by the United States as well in the month of December 2012 (Abraham 1-70; Deeb 1-100). Free Syrian Army. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) is considered to be the major armed opposition entity in Syria, which has been functioning since the commencement of Syrian civil war. It was formed in the month of July, 2011 by a group of absconded Syrian Army officials. This group is responsible for causing maximum amount of disturbances in the entire Syria during the period of uprising (Pollack 1-17). The FSA functions in a diversified manner and acts more like an umbrella organization than a conventional military chain. This group has a particular office which is headquartered in Turkey. This particular group is not liable to issue straight commands to its different bands of fighters, however it is also a fact that several of the efficient armed force groups are combating under the banner of FSA (Abraham 1-70; Deeb 1-100). After deriving a critical evaluation of the particular groups playing a major role in the entire enduring saga of Syrian civil war, it can again be counter argued that Syria has had to face with a lot of adversities which has primarily materialized owing to the fact that such types of strong and venomous armed forces have been against it (Abraham 1-70; Deeb 1-100). CONCLUSION From the overall analysis of the various instances with regard to the Syrian civil war, it has been determined that the conflict has taken a mounting proportion in the period of past two years since its commencement. It has not only affected the nation of Syria as a whole but the spillover of the crisis has also impacted the neighboring nations as well by a considerable extent. The major adversities that have to be endured by the nation especially include killing of tens of thousands of people along with innocent civilians, displacement of millions of inhabitants from the home as well as creation of refugees. It is apparently observed that the continued turn of the civil war in Syria to the worse has been largely promulgated by the opposition affiliated parties involvement. These parties such as Free Syrian Army, Syrian National Council and Mujahideen among others have internally executed their deadly missions to endanger the civilians and to bring in major hurdles for the country’s administration as well. Works Cited Abraham, Antoine J. The Lebanon War. United States: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996. Print. Asseburg, Muriel, and Heiko Wimmen. “Civil War in Syria.” German Institute for International and Security Affairs. (2012): 1-7. Print. Cordesman, Anthony H. Israel and Syria: The Military Balance and Prospects of War. United States: ABC-CLIO, 2008. Print. Deeb, Marius. Syrias Terrorist War on Lebanon and the Peace Process. United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003. Print. Kohn, George C. Dictionary of Wars. United States: Infobase Publishing, 2006. Print. Pollack, Kenneth M. “Breaking the Stalemate: The Military Dynamics of the Syrian Civil War and Options for Limited U.S. Intervention.” Saban Center 30 (2013): 1-17. Print. Rabil, Robert G. Syria, the United States, and the War on Terror in the Middle East. United States: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006. Print. Read More