query: who are the two sides in the syrian conflict

pos: Syrian Civil War Syrian Civil War The Syrian Civil War (, "al-ḥarb al-ʾahlīyah as-sūrīyah") is an ongoing multi-sided armed conflict in Syria fought between the Ba'athist Syrian Arab Republic led by President Bashar al-Assad, along with domestic and foreign allies, and various domestic and foreign forces opposing both the government and each other in varying combinations. The unrest in Syria, part of a wider wave of the 2011 Arab Spring protests, grew out of discontent with the Assad government and escalated to an armed conflict after protests calling for his removal were violently suppressed. The war is being fought by several factions: the

pos: DFNS–Syria relations again. 10+ SAA troops and 7 Asayish fighters were killed. Many more on both sides were injured. DFNS–Syria relations DFNS–Syrian Arab Republic relations concern the military and political relations between the forces of the Ba'athist Syrian Arab Republic and those of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, a de facto autonomous Kurdish-majority region in Northern Syria. While conflict between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Army during the Syrian Civil War has been rare, compared to their fighting against other groups, there have been several skirmishes between the two forces. There has also been cooperation between the SDF

neg: Improvised vehicle armour units on both sides of the conflict have improvised armour added to vehicles like the BTR-80. The Azov Battalion has developed their own vehicle, the "Azovets", similar to the Russian BMPT Terminator. In their role in the ongoing Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict and Syrian Civil War and finding themselves lacking in the amount of modern armor, members of the Kurdistan peshmerga and People's Protection Units (YPG) were reported to have fabricated homemade armored fighting vehicles of widely varying designs to fight ISIS militants, who are armed with captured modern armor. Many of the improvised vehicles were converted tractors and farm equipment

neg: Foreign fighters in the Syrian and Iraqi Civil Wars ISIS. Two others were also on trial as part of a crackdown on militants. Yemenis have also fought for both sides in the Syrian battle. Palestinians have also fought for both sides of the conflict with Hamas being more supportive of the opposition and the PFLP-GC supporting the government. A leading Mauritanian jihadist ideologue, Sheikh Abu al-Mundhir al-Shinqiti called in 2012 for support for the Nusra Front. Thousands of Iranian operatives - as many as 10,000 by the end of 2013 - have fought in the Syrian war on the pro-government side, including regular troops and militia members. In 2018,

neg: Israeli involvement in the Syrian Civil War the Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian Civil War. Through the incidents, which began in late 2012, as of mid-2014, one Israeli civilian was allegedly killed and at least 4 soldiers wounded; on the Syrian-controlled side, it was estimated that at least two unidentified militants were killed, who attempted to penetrate into Israeli-controlled side of the Golan Heights. Israel's official position is neutrality in the Syrian conflict. During the conflict, several Israeli Defense Ministers had made statements on Israel's neutrality in the conflict. In early July 2017, Israel's defence minister Avigdor Liberman said that while ″the rebels are not our friends,

neg: Al-Nusra Front–SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict resulted in a failure. They blamed the Syrian Revolutionaries Front for the failure, because, according to al-Nusra, the SRF stabbed them in the back. Then, they launched the offensive. However, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the clashes between the two sides already started the day before the raid. The clashes between the two sides erupted on 26 October 2014, with conflicting information about the reason. Between 27 and 28 October, the al-Nusra Front attacked the SRF and took over the towns and villages of Balyon, Kesafra, Eblin, Ebdita, Mashon, Maghara and Maghara as well as four

neg: Civil uprising phase of the Syrian Civil War FSA. 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. 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. Civil uprising phase of the Syrian Civil War The civil uprising phase of the Syrian Civil War, or as it was sometimes called by the media the Syrian Revolution of Dignity was an early stage of protests – with subsequent violent

neg: Syria deaths with war crimes, according to Pillay, being committed with total impunity on all sides in the conflict. Minority Alawites and Christians are being increasingly targeted by Islamists and other groups fighting in the Syrian civil war. In April 2017, the U.S. Navy carried out a missile attack against a Syrian air base which had allegedly been used to conduct a chemical weapons attack on Syrian civilians, according to the US government. The President of Syria is commander in chief of the Syrian armed forces, comprising some 400,000 troops upon mobilization. The military is a conscripted force; males serve in

neg: Battle of Zahleh the war so that they would demand a Syrian intervention for their protection. The Christians, who were represented in the war mainly by the Phalangists, demanded in 1978 the withdrawal of all Syrian military forces from the country because they had turned into occupiers and their intentions became clear. In addition, Syria switched sides and stood with the PLO after the Camp David Accords in order the lead the Arabs in the conflict against Israel. As a result, tensions began to mount between the Christian militias and the Syrian Army, which led to the Hundred Days War that resulted in

neg: August 2013 Rabaa massacre Gulf Arab reversion for the Muslim Brotherhood as a potential destabiliser to its own regimes. Bloomberg suggested the U.S. was in bind as its regional allies were supporting different sides in Egypt. It also drew parallels for foreign support for Syrian rebels amongst its allies, yet different sides in the Egyptian conflict. It quoted Brian Katulis, a foreign policy analyst at the Center for American Progress, who said: "What we’re seeing in the Middle East is a competition for power and influence among the key states that are wealthier and have more resources. What Qatar and Turkey say is almost

neg: Al-Ahbash from which they themselves were banned. Due to its strong historical links with the Syrian government of the al-Assad family, the Ahbash have often been in conflict with the Lebanese supporters of the anti-Syrian Hariri family and in 2005 at least two of its members were initially implicated—jailed and later released—in the Assassination of Rafic Hariri. The Ahbash also strongly opposed and demonstrated against the Cedar Revolution that was triggered by Hariri's assassination. Ahbash reportedly remains neutral in the Syrian Civil War, despite pressure from both sides. In 2010, Ahbash and Hezbollah members were involved in a street battle which

neg: Lebanese Civil War with the LNM, and Muslim conservatives with the government, dropped sharply, as the war revealed itself as an utterly sectarian conflict. Another effect of the massacres was to bring in Yassir Arafat's well-armed Fatah and thereby the Palestine Liberation Organisation on the side of the LNM, as Palestinian sentiment was by now completely hostile to the Maronite forces. On 22 January 1976, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad brokered a truce between the two sides, while covertly beginning to move Syrian troops into Lebanon under the guise of the Palestine Liberation Army in order to bring the PLO back under Syrian influence

neg: Child marriage was during the conflict. Incidents of child marriages increased in Syria and among Syrian refugees over the course of the conflict. The proportion of Syrian refugee girls living in Jordan who were married increased from 13% in 2011 to 32% in 2014. Journalists Magnus Wennman and Carina Bergfeldt documented the practice, and some of its results. Hill tribes girls are often married young. For the Karen people it is possible that two couples can arrange their children's marriage before the children are born. In Indonesia, there are reports of Muslim clerics taking multiple underage wives, some less than 12 years

neg: Syria Direct journalism. Syria Direct Syria Direct or Syria:direct, founded in 2013, is a non-governmental organization based in Amman, Jordan, providing news coverage on Syria's war and politics, and giving training to journalists. They have been funded by an American organization, the Global Peace and Development (GPD) Charitable Trust, and by the US State Department. "Syria Direct" is published in English and Arabic. The articles are for readers who are already knowledgeable about Syria but want more detailed information. "Syria Direct" employs about 24 Syrians and Americans who talk to Syrian activists and civilians on both sides of the conflict every day

neg: Syria Direct Syria Direct Syria Direct or Syria:direct, founded in 2013, is a non-governmental organization based in Amman, Jordan, providing news coverage on Syria's war and politics, and giving training to journalists. They have been funded by an American organization, the Global Peace and Development (GPD) Charitable Trust, and by the US State Department. "Syria Direct" is published in English and Arabic. The articles are for readers who are already knowledgeable about Syria but want more detailed information. "Syria Direct" employs about 24 Syrians and Americans who talk to Syrian activists and civilians on both sides of the conflict every day by

neg: Foreign fighters in the Syrian and Iraqi Civil Wars according to Mattis, the intention is "that the foreign fighters do not survive the fight to return home to North Africa, to Europe, to America, to Asia, to Africa." Amidst concern of blowback, the first reported case of a former fighter in the conflict to attack those outside Syria occurred in May 2014 at the Jewish Museum of Belgium shooting. Though unconfirmed, ISIS reportedly claimed responsibility for the 2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa. Foreign fighters in the Syrian and Iraqi Civil Wars Foreign fighters have fought on all four sides of the Syrian Civil War, as well both sides

neg: Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War 3 others. In October 2016, clashes broke out between the two groups as Jund al-Aqsa tried to storm Khan Shaykhun. Dozens of militants were killed on both sides while several fighters of Ahrar al-Sham were reportedly captured. Clashes between the two sides then escalated throughout the Idlib Governorate, with both sides expelling the other from several towns and villages. On 9 October, Jund al-Aqsa was expelled from 3 more villages in Idlib. Meanwhile, several other Islamist groups called upon fighters of the organisation to abandon it. The group reportedly pledged allegiance to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham which declared Jund al-Aqsa would

neg: Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict Jund al-Aqsa members. On 9 March, an agreement for 48 hour ceasefire has been reached between warring parties. On 11 March, fighting resumed and several SLF members surrendered to HTS. On 17 March, Faylaq al-Sham mediated a ceasefire agreement between Tahrir al-Sham and the Syrian Liberation Front. The agreement includes release of prisoners on both sides, cessation of attacks, and opening of roads leading to the front lines with the Syrian Arab Army and its allies. On 19 March, two days after the cease fire agreement Ahrar al-Sham arrested a Tahrir al-Sham commander named Yusuf al-Abdullah as he was trying

neg: Media coverage of the Syrian Civil War following further investigations by "The New York Times", which suggested that the NBC team "was almost certainly taken by a Sunni criminal element affiliated with the Free Syrian Army," rather than by a loyalist Shia group. Media coverage of the Syrian Civil War Since the start of the Syrian Civil War, all sides have used social media to try to discredit their opponents by using negative terms such as 'Syrian regime', 'armed gangs/terrorists', 'Syrian government/US State Department propaganda', 'biased', 'US/Western/foreign involvement'. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, given the complexity of the Syrian conflict, media bias in reporting

neg: Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian Civil War to date. Many Circassians are attempting to return to their ancestral North Caucasus homelands. Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian Civil War The Syrian Civil War is an intensely sectarian conflict. The focus of the conflict has been identified by some as a ruling minority Alawite government and allied Shi'a governments such as Iran, pitted against the country's Sunni Muslim majority who are aligned with the Syrian opposition and their Sunni Turkish and Persian Gulf state backers. However Sunni Muslims make up the majority of the Syrian Arab Army and many hold high governmental positions. Others identify it as the

neg: Battle of al-Qusayr (2013) during the last day. Refugees who fled to Arsal in Lebanon, later described their ordeal to be horrific. Several accounts were recorded mentioning the cases of families being killed by Hezbollah forces, and their money and possessions stolen. A number of testimonies indicated targeting of families by government forces who refused to leave their homes. The battle for Qusayr was considered by both sides in the conflict to be critical. For the Syrian government and Hezbollah, the capture of al-Qusayr allowed the Syrian government to link Homs to Damascus, reinforcing Homs and connecting Army forces to the Mediterranean coast and

neg: Media coverage of the Syrian Civil War Media coverage of the Syrian Civil War Since the start of the Syrian Civil War, all sides have used social media to try to discredit their opponents by using negative terms such as 'Syrian regime', 'armed gangs/terrorists', 'Syrian government/US State Department propaganda', 'biased', 'US/Western/foreign involvement'. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, given the complexity of the Syrian conflict, media bias in reporting remains a key challenge, plaguing the collection of useful data and misinforming researchers and policymakers regarding the actual events taking place. As in the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, the Internet played a major role in

neg: Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian Civil War Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian Civil War The Syrian Civil War is an intensely sectarian conflict. The focus of the conflict has been identified by some as a ruling minority Alawite government and allied Shi'a governments such as Iran, pitted against the country's Sunni Muslim majority who are aligned with the Syrian opposition and their Sunni Turkish and Persian Gulf state backers. However Sunni Muslims make up the majority of the Syrian Arab Army and many hold high governmental positions. Others identify it as the secular Syrian government, made up of all religious groups pitted against the Islamist opposition.

neg: Operation Olive Branch "many parties might want to see Turkey stuck in a quagmire" and has advised that Turkey "try to contain this adventure". Tehran's position is that the Kurdish fighters are not acting independently, but rather are receiving support from multiple sides in the conflict. In the days prior to the offensive, Turkey and the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army exchanged artillery fire with YPG militants along the Turkish-Syrian border near Afrin. The YPG shelled the TFSA-held town of Azaz. The Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reported that Russian military observers in the Afrin area began withdrawing on 19 January 2018 in anticipation of

neg: Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Syrian Observatory for Human Rights The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (also known as SOHR; ), founded in May 2006, is a UK-based information office whose stated aim is to document human rights abuses in Syria; it has focused since 2011 on the Syrian Civil War. It is frequently quoted by major news outlets since the beginning of the war about daily numbers of deaths from all sides in the conflict and particularly civilians killed in airstrikes in Syria. The SOHR has been described as being "pro-opposition" and anti-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is run by Rami Abdulrahman

neg: Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian Civil War the conflict, with more fighters and civilians on both sides describing the civil war in ethnic or religious terms, "Feeling threatened and under attack, ethnic and religious minority groups have increasingly aligned themselves with parties to the conflict, deepening sectarian divides", said the report. The sharpest split is between the ruling minority Alawite sect, a Muslim sect from which President Assad's most senior political and military associates are drawn, and the country's Sunni Muslim majority, mostly aligned with the opposition, the panel noted. But it said the conflict had drawn in other minorities, including Armenian Christians, Assyrian Christians, Druze, Palestinians,

neg: 2013 Sidon clash 2013 Sidon clash The June 2013 Sidon clash was part of the Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon, and involved the Lebanese Army and Sunni militants in the city of Sidon, Lebanon. Clashes between the followers of militant preacher Ahmed Al-Assir resulted in the deaths of 18 soldiers, 25–40 al-Assir gunmen, two civilians, and according to some sources, four Hezbollah fighters. The clashes were the deadliest since the Syria-related internal conflict in Lebanon began in 2011. The Syrian civil war has heightened sectarian tensions within Lebanon, particularly between Sunni and Shia Muslims, many of whom support opposing sides and have

neg: Hafez al-Assad sent troops into Lebanon without international approval. While Yasser Arafat and the PLO had not officially taken a side in the conflict, several PLO members were fighting with the LNM. Assad attempted to steer Arafat and the PLO away from Lebanon, threatening him with a cutoff of Syrian aid. The two sides were unable to reach an agreement. When Frangieh stepped down in 1976, Syria pressured Lebanese members of parliament to elect Elias Sarkis president. One-third of the Lebanese members of parliament (primarily supporters of Raymond Edde) boycotted the election to protest American and Syrian interference. On 31 May 1976,

neg: Syrian Civil War warfare is employed in a context of egregious human rights and international humanitarian law violations. The warring parties do not fear being held accountable for their acts." Armed forces of both sides of the conflict blocked access of humanitarian convoys, confiscated food, cut off water supplies and targeted farmers working their fields. The report pointed to four places besieged by the government forces: Muadamiyah, Daraya, Yarmouk camp and Old City of Homs, as well as two areas under siege of rebel groups: Aleppo and Hama. In Yarmouk Camp 20,000 residents are facing death by starvation due to blockade by the

neg: War of Brothers other districts of Beirut, such as Msaytbeh. It quickly escalated the following morning at around 7:45 a.m., after six hours of relative calm. Both sides engaged in burning and looting of property along Lija Street and the Salim Salam Bridge. Syrian troops intervened in neighborhoods where the clashes hadn't spread yet, to prevent spill over fighting there. A joint security team, comprising Amal, Hezbollah and Syrian forces, started patrolling the conflict zone at 8:30 p.m. to enforce the Damascus ceasefire. Representatives from both sides later met with Syria's Ali Hammoud at his office in the Beau Rivage Hotel in Beirut,

neg: Lebanese Civil War strategy, the Syrian forces controlled major roads leading in and out of the city and fortified the entire Valley. Around December 1980, tensions increased between Zahlawi Lebanese Forces and Syrian backed Leftist militants. From April to June 1981, throughout the four-month period, a handful of LF members, aided by Zahlawi Local Resistance, confronted the Syrian military and defended the city from Syrian intrusion and potential invasion. Nearly 1,100 people were killed on both sides during the conflict. This campaign paved the way for Bachir to reach the presidency in 1982. On 3 June 1982, the Abu Nidal Organization, a splinter

neg: Opposition–ISIL conflict during the Syrian Civil War was withdrawing from the frontline with ISIL in protest over Turkish and US plans for a safezone in Aleppo province. On 27 August, ISIL launched a major offensive on the opposition bastion of Marea. ISIL fighters captured two villages that Nusra had withdrawn from while taking three villages neighboring Marea, enveloping it in a pincer movement on three sides and killing dozens. On 5 September, ISIL pushed into Marea from the north, rebels entrenched in the town attempted to resist as ferocious fighting killed 47 on both sides. On 8 September, it was reported that the rebels had managed to

neg: Bab al-Tabbaneh–Jabal Mohsen conflict Bab al-Tabbaneh–Jabal Mohsen conflict The Bab al-Tabbaneh–Jabal Mohsen conflict is a recurring conflict between Sunni Muslim residents of the Bab-al-Tibbaneh and Alawite Muslim residents of the Jabal Mohsen neighbourhoods of Tripoli, Lebanon. Residents of the two neighbourhoods have been rivals since the Lebanese Civil War, and have often engaged in violence. They are divided along sectarian lines, as well as by their opposition to or support of the Alawite-led Syrian government. Violence flared up during the Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon. Sunni Muslims and Alawites have been in conflict with each other for centuries. The Alawites of the Levant

neg: Opposition–ISIL conflict during the Syrian Civil War Opposition–ISIL conflict during the Syrian Civil War Opposition–ISIL conflict during the Syrian Civil War started after fighting erupted between Syrian opposition groupsand the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In early January 2014, serious clashes between the groups erupted in the north of the country. Opposition groups near Aleppo attacked ISIL in two areas, Atarib and Anadan, which were both strongholds of the fundamentalist Sunni organization. Despite the conflict between ISIL and other rebels, one faction of ISIL has cooperated with the al-Nusra Front and the Green Battalion (a group of Saudi fighters) to combat Hezbollah in the

neg: Opposition–ISIL conflict during the Syrian Civil War 322 rebel and Kurdish fighters, 7 alleged government spies (including a child), 5 Iraqi citizens, 3 military deserters and one former ISIL member. Opposition–ISIL conflict during the Syrian Civil War Opposition–ISIL conflict during the Syrian Civil War started after fighting erupted between Syrian opposition groupsand the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In early January 2014, serious clashes between the groups erupted in the north of the country. Opposition groups near Aleppo attacked ISIL in two areas, Atarib and Anadan, which were both strongholds of the fundamentalist Sunni organization. Despite the conflict between ISIL and other rebels, one

neg: Aérospatiale Gazelle HOT missiles being a key factor in its effectiveness. The effectiveness of the Syrian helicopter raids was reduced throughout the month of June as Syrian air defenses were progressively eroded and the Israeli Air Force took aerial supremacy over Eastern Lebanon, thus making operations by attack helicopters increasingly vulnerable. However, Gazelle strikes continued to be successfully performed up to the issuing of a ceasefire. The 1982 war served to highlight the importance and role of attack helicopters in future conflicts due to their performance on both sides of the conflict. Following the end of the war, the Syrian Army would

neg: Bab al-Tabbaneh–Jabal Mohsen conflict up. It was the first suicide attack on a civilian neighbourhood in nearly a year, following a security sweep. Bab al-Tabbaneh–Jabal Mohsen conflict The Bab al-Tabbaneh–Jabal Mohsen conflict is a recurring conflict between Sunni Muslim residents of the Bab-al-Tibbaneh and Alawite Muslim residents of the Jabal Mohsen neighbourhoods of Tripoli, Lebanon. Residents of the two neighbourhoods have been rivals since the Lebanese Civil War, and have often engaged in violence. They are divided along sectarian lines, as well as by their opposition to or support of the Alawite-led Syrian government. Violence flared up during the Syrian Civil War spillover in

neg: Syrian Civil War exceed 10 percent of the opposition armed forces. Another estimate puts the number of foreign jihadis at 15,000 by early 2014. In October 2012, various Iraqi religious groups join the conflict in Syria on both sides. Radical Sunnis from Iraq have traveled to Syria to fight against President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government. In December 2015, the Soufan Group estimated a total of 27,000–31,000 foreign fighters from 86 countries had travelled to Syria and Iraq to join extremist groups. The Syrian Civil War is one of the most heavily documented wars in history, despite the extreme dangers that journalists

neg: 2011–12 Syrian Premier League 2011–12 Syrian Premier League The 2011–12 Syrian Premier League season is the 41st since its establishment. The 2010–11 league campaign was suspended due to the Syrian Civil War. This seasons league will feature two stages. Stage one will pit two groups of eight teams and kicked off on 9 October. The top four off each group would advance to the Championship pool to determine the overall league champions. The bottom four placed sides would enter the relegation pool to determine who would be relegated. Two teams were promoted from the 2nd tier league; Hurriya SC based in Aleppo and Baniyas

neg: Yom Kippur War the summit of Mount Hermon. The fighting lasted for more than a month and saw heavy losses on both sides, but the Israelis held their positions. The situation continued until a May 1974 disengagement agreement. The U.S. pressed King Hussein to keep Jordan out of the war. Though King Hussein of Jordan initially refrained from entering the conflict, on the night of October 12–13 Jordanian troops deployed to the Jordanian-Syrian frontier to buttress Syrian troops, and Jordanian forces joined Syrian and Iraqi assaults on Israeli positions on October 16 and October 19. Hussein sent a second brigade to the Golan

neg: Selim Hoss on both sides of the Green Line and recognized both as Lebanon's prime ministers even though, constitutionally speaking, Aoun was the lawfully-appointed prime minister and acting president of Lebanon. Violent conflict between the two prime ministers soon arose over Michel Aoun's refusal to accept the presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon. In competition with Aoun, Hoss remained acting president from 1988 until 5 November 1989, when René Moawad took office. When Moawad was assassinated seventeen days later, Hoss reprised his role as acting president for two days, at which point Elias Hrawi was elected to succeed Moawad. In 1990, the

neg: Walter Russell Mead damaged American credibility and encouraged Russia and Iran to ramp up their direct support for the Assad regime. Mead supported arming certain elements in the Syrian resistance as a stop-gap measure, but was realistic about the character of most rebel groups as well as the prospects for a post-conflict Syria. Mead suggested that supporting Syrian rebels who may be unsavory but are not openly antagonistic to the US could shorten the conflict, weaken Iran's influence in the region, increase the relative power of non-jihadist rebels post-conflict, and decrease the likelihood of a more robust American intervention being required in the

neg: Irish Civil War Easter Rising). Many of those who fought on both sides in the conflict had been members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the War of Independence. The Civil War was won by the Free State forces, who benefitted from substantial quantities of weapons provided by the British Government. The conflict may have claimed more lives than the War of Independence that preceded it, and left Irish society divided and embittered for generations. Today, two of the main political parties in the Republic of Ireland, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, are direct descendants of the opposing sides of the war.

neg: Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict IED also detonated targeting a vehicle belonging to the Sham Legion killing 4 of their members. HTS raided an ISIL meeting in the city of Kafr Nabl which resulted in clashes between members of the two groups, two ISIL members were killed while one HTS member was killed. Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict On 19 February 2018, heavy clashes erupted between the newly-established Syrian Liberation Front, which consists of Ahrar al-Sham and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, backed by the Suqour al-Sham Brigades, and Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the western Aleppo Governorate. The conflict soon spread to the Idlib Governorate

neg: Syrian Argentines Syrian Argentines Syrian Argentines are Argentine-born citizens of Syrian descent or Syrian-born people who reside in Argentina. Argentina is the second South American country with the highest number of Syrians after Brazil. Syrian immigration to Argentina has been, and is currently, one of the most important Arab migration flows in the country. Immigration waves peaked in the 20th century, although in recent years due to the constant wars in the Middle East, immigration from Syria has been increasing over time. In 2012, during the conflict, the Argentine consulate in Damascus received 40 percent more applications for visas. In 2013, Argentina

neg: Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (May–August 2012) be able to control all the Syrian cities," Silu told Asharq al-Awsat. Two Iraqi journalists were shot and stabbed in Damascus and then handed over to an Iraqi border post by Syrian intelligence and police. A total of 525 Syrians, including several military officers who defected from the Syrian army, fled to Turkey on Monday. This included a brigadier general, bring the number of defected generals staying in Turkey to 18. The Israeli army intelligence chief said on Tuesday that Syrian army forces has moved from the Golan Heights area next to Israel toward Damascus and other internal conflict zones.

neg: Arab–Israeli conflict existing cease-fire, the Arab League and Israel remain at odds with each other over many issues. Developments in the course of the Syrian Civil War reshuffled the situation near Israel's northern border, putting the Syrian Arab Republic, Hezbollah and the Syrian opposition at odds with each other and complicating their relations with Israel. The conflict between Israel and Hamas-ruled Gaza, which resulted in the 2014 cease-fire, is usually also considered part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Its 2006–2012 phase is, however, also attributed to the Iran–Israel proxy conflict in the region (Syria and Hezbollah are being supported by Iran). Since 2012,

neg: Syrian Electronic Army called their jokes unfunny, one hacker associated with the group told a "Vice" interview 'haters gonna hate.'" On 31 October 2014, the SEA released a Linux distribution named SEANux. In May 2018, two suspects were indicted. Syrian Electronic Army The Syrian Electronic Army (SEA) is a group of computer hackers which first surfaced online in 2011 to support the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Using spamming, website defacement, malware, phishing, and denial-of-service attacks, it has targeted political opposition groups, western news organizations, human rights groups and websites that are seemingly neutral to the Syrian conflict. It has also hacked

neg: 2011–12 Syrian Premier League due to both sides being level on points. Head to head results do not matter. Winner advance to Championship Pool and loser advance to Relegation Pool. 2011–12 Syrian Premier League The 2011–12 Syrian Premier League season is the 41st since its establishment. The 2010–11 league campaign was suspended due to the Syrian Civil War. This seasons league will feature two stages. Stage one will pit two groups of eight teams and kicked off on 9 October. The top four off each group would advance to the Championship pool to determine the overall league champions. The bottom four placed sides would

neg: Ghassan Aboud news, culture and entertainment; all of which are aimed specially for Syrian viewers in the Arab world. The channel also runs children's programme to educate Syrian children, many of whom have been displaced by the ongoing conflict, that there are alternatives to conflict and violence. Orient Radio is a Syrian radio-station broadcasting varied content; news, economic, sports, social shows, and Arabic music. It aims to reflect what it considers as Syrian collective values, culture and daily life. The station based in Jordan and broadcasts into all provinces of Syria except for Raqqa. Established in 2008, Live Point Art produces news,

neg: Combat operations in 2012 during the Battle of Aleppo dragging them into the rebel camp. Rebels who had taken the predominantly Christian areas and Jdeidah, where Lawrence of Arabia once stayed, reported intimidation by the rebels who feared retaliation from both sides in the conflict. The rebels also claimed to have had encircled the Citadel of Aleppo. Rebel activists claimed that Kurdish forces had either reached agreement with rebels to allow their rapid advance or assisted the rebels by simply leaving their checkpoints overnight. One rebel spokesman claimed that Kurdish forces might join the Free Syrian Army. It was reported that government tanks moved into Faisal street, the main

neg: Solution process Solution process Solution process (), also known as the Kurdish–Turkish peace process, was a peace process which aimed to resolve the long-running Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present). The conflict has been ongoing since 1984 and resulted in some 40,000–100,000 mortal casualties and great economic losses for Turkey as well as high damage to the Kurdish population. Though there was a unilateral cease-fire between 1999 and 2004, the sides failed to gain understanding and the conflict became increasingly violent. The 2013 truce was working until September 2014, when the relations became strained due to spillover of the Syrian Civil War; the truce fully

neg: Ibrahim Al-Omar him. As a result of the same Russian mission, two others were killed south of Idlib in Ihsem, while another five were killed elsewhere in the providence. The Syrian Civil War is an armed conflict between Bashar Al-Assad and the opposition in Syria. At that moment, Russia was involved in the conflict in partnership with the Bashar Al-Assad regime. The Russian air attacks had been an ongoing operation. Syrian citizens have been reporting what was happening on the ground during the war as the situation became dangerous. Ibrahim Al-Omar was one of the few who have actually been hired by

neg: Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement are "nothing more than individuals whose motivations are clear." This was said despite Ahrar al-Sham as a whole merging with the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement in forming the Syrian Liberation Front. On 20 February the Syrian Liberation Front accused Tahrir al-Sham of capturing its members at checkpoints. On 24 February, Hassan Soufan, general commander of the Syrian Liberation Front, called on the Sham Legion, who did not comment on the clashes, to side with the SLF against HTS. During a brief battle on 26 February, mere hours after the loss of Darat Izza to the

neg: Syrian News Channel al-Tall area of Damascus Countryside. The crew members are, Journalist "Yara Saleh", Cameraman "Abdullah Tabreh", Cameraman Assistant "Hatem Abu Yehya" and the driver "Hussam Imad". However, the armed forces freed the team seven days later. Three colleagues were released except of "Hatem Abu Yehya" who was killed by the armed groups. On September 5, 2012, Syrian Television Channels broadcast were broken off on Arabsat and Nilesat, including Syrian News Channel. On September 27, 2012, the Syrian News Channel was hijacked for about 90 seconds by unknown sides. "Mohammed al-Ashram", cameraman for Syrian News Channel was shot dead in the eastern

neg: Ahmet Davutoğlu in 2012, would not damage relations. In 2013, the two sides still failed to agree on the fate of Syria, yet both emphasised that they would formulate a strategic plan to bring peace and stability throughout the region. Davutoğlu also supported Russia's call for Syria to hand over its chemical weapons instead of risking foreign military intervention. In May 2014, he raised concerns regarding the Syrian presidential election with Russia. Davutoğlu has supported the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine and Crimea through diplomatic negotiations, and has raised concern over the treatments of Crimean Tatars by

neg: Andrea Kalin throughout the country as they try to raise awareness. The film premiered at the LA Femme International Film Festival. In 2014, Kalin co-directed and produced a film on the Syrian conflict entitled Red Lines. The documentary film tells the story of the Syrian conflict through the lens of young Syrian activists. Red Lines won a number of documentary film awards including but not limited to Best Feature Documentary at the Woodstock Film Festival and two Humanitarian awards (the Accolade Competition, Global Film Awards and Tiburion Film Festival, Golden Reel Awards). In 2017, Kalin had two films in production: The first

neg: Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian Civil War Kafriya and Zarzur) in northern Syria as well as in Rif Dimashq (Sayyidah Zaynab) and Daraa (Bosra) in southern Syria. In October 2012, various Iraqi religious sects join the conflict in Syria on both sides. Twelfer Shiites from Iraq, in Babil Province and Diyala Province, have traveled to Damascus from Tehran, or from the Shiite holy city of Najaf, Iraq, to protect Sayyidah Zaynab, an important Twelfer Shiite shrine in Damascus. In December 2012, Syrian rebel forces burned the Shia 'Husseiniya' mosque in the northern town of Jisr al-Shughur, inciting fears that the salafist groups would wage an all out

neg: Operation Olive Branch in a speech in Ankara. "What can that terror army target but Turkey? Our mission is to strangle it before it's even born." According to media reports with reference to sources in the Syrian Kurdish leadership, shortly before the Turkish incursion, as an alternative option, Russia proposed that the Kurdish authorities in Afrin recognise the Syrian government's control in the region; the proposal was rejected at the time. The Afrin offensive has jeopardized the "Astana Peace Process" by placing the major parties—Russia, Iran, and Turkey—on opposing sides of the conflict. According to an Iranian official, Tehran has warned Ankara that

neg: Syrian peace process days of talks on strengthening the ceasefire regime (see above, Dec. 2016) in the nearly six-year-old Syrian conflict ended Feb. 16 in Astana with the adoption of a document to formalise monitoring of the December 29, 2016, ceasefire agreement (see above). The document will guide the activities of a joint operational group to be formed by Russia, Turkey and Iran that was agreed to be set up during the earlier meeting in January in Astana. The document is also meant to guide confidence-building measures among the opposing sides. The third round of meetings in Astana held between 14 and 15

neg: Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict Atarib from any aggressor. In Idlib, Abdullah al-Muhaysini and Musallah al-Olayan announced the formation of the Aba Union for foreign jihadist fighters to remain focused on fighting the Syrian government and not get involved in the infighting while still remaining in their respective factions. The newly formed al-Qaeda faction Guardians of Religion Organization, specifically, Jaysh al-Sahel, threatened to engage the SLF if they attack certain villages. As Atarib was surrounded on all sides by HTS, HTS has also announced plans to take Darat Izza and the Aleppo suburbs by force. The next day, the SLF took control of three in

neg: Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict On 19 February 2018, heavy clashes erupted between the newly-established Syrian Liberation Front, which consists of Ahrar al-Sham and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, backed by the Suqour al-Sham Brigades, and Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the western Aleppo Governorate. The conflict soon spread to the Idlib Governorate and the SLF captured several towns from HTS. A ceasefire between the two groups was reached on 24 April 2018. Tahrir al-Sham was formed by five Salafist rebel groups in Syria, including the al-Nusra Front and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, on 28 January 2017. During clashes between

neg: Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016) executed Zeino al-Berri, tribal leader of the al-Berri tribe, the tribe joined the fight against the rebels. Initially, the Christian community tried to avoid taking sides in the conflict. However, many Christians supported the Army and some formed militias aligned with the government following the capture of their quarters by the Syrian Army. Many Christian Armenians also supported the Syrian Army. Some of Aleppo's Armenians claimed Turkey supported the FSA to attack Armenians and Arab Christians. In 2012, one Armenian militia had around 150 fighters. At the beginning of the battle, Aleppo's Kurds formed armed groups, most notably the Saladin

neg: Foreign fighters in the Syrian and Iraqi Civil Wars Foreign fighters in the Syrian and Iraqi Civil Wars Foreign fighters have fought on all four sides of the Syrian Civil War, as well both sides of the Iraqi Civil War. The conflicts are sectarian, with foreign Sunnis fighting for the Syrian opposition and the Islamic State, foreign Shias fighting for the Syrian government, and foreign leftists fighting for the People's Protection Units. Many foreign nationals have fought in the conflicts and some of them have died. Fighters include those from the Gulf Arab states, Tunisia (following its own Tunisian revolution), Libya (following the Libyan Civil War), China, other Arab

neg: Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict (2013–present) ISIL and al-Nusra expelled Jabhat al-Akrad and the YPG from the border town of Tell Abyad after a week of fighting which displaced thousands of Kurdish civilians. On 1 August, the Islamic State declared the start of the Siege of Kobani, or Ayn al-Arab where the headquarters of the YPG is located. The area surrounding Kobani was then blocked on all sides by ISIL and the Turks. By August 28, Islamists and Kurdish forces were battling for control of the town of Yarubiya on the Syrian-Iraqi border. Islamists had captured further territory from the Kurds in Aleppo and Raqqa provinces;

neg: Syrian Liberation Front 19 February 2018, the day after the Syrian Liberation Front was established, violent clashes erupted between the group and Tahrir al-Sham in the western Aleppo Governorate. The conflict soon spread to the Idlib Governorate and the SLF captured the city of Maarrat al-Nu'man, the towns of Ariha and Tramla, and the Wadi Deif military base from HTS on 21 February. By April 18, pro-SLF media reported that after 60 days of fighting, 750 Tahrir al-Sham fighters and 225 SLF and Suqour al-Sham Brigades fighters had been killed, 3,000 fighters from both sides had been wounded, and 15 armoured vehicles (most

neg: Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (January–April 2013) victims had been executed by a single shot to the head or neck. Their identity remains unknown, and both sides of the conflict accuse each other of the massacre, as the river flows through areas controlled by different opposing groups. The LCC reported 229 people killed by the Syrian army including 118 in Aleppo among which 80 of them from Bustan al Qusr. The SOHR reported the deaths of around 230 people; 72 civilians, 73 summarily executed men, 39 rebels and 41 soldiers. US government sources have told Associated Press that they believe a battery of SA-17 were being sent

neg: Deca (journalism collective) Bashir-al Assad in the Syrian civil war. The story follows exiled Syrian businessman Mezyan Al Barazi and a network of compatriots over several years as they navigate the hurdles of getting money and supplies to the rebels, hoping to quickly overthrow the government. An increasingly complicated conflict that escalates quickly from protests to fighting means they must face decisions about whether or not to support armed conflict in absentia. Through dozens of interviews and other primary sources the book reveals wide, covert, sometimes foreign government-backed networks of Syrians abroad who are funding the war. It also examines the nuanced unity

neg: Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (January–July 2015) offensive aimed at cutting rebel supply lines to the Turkish border, Assad regime forces entered the village of Ratyan, north of Aleppo, and executions took place. Rebels retake the village of Ratyan and capture 32 Syrian Army soldiers and pro-government gunmen, where fighting is raging as the two sides try to grab new territory ahead of a possible truce. More than 170 fighters are killed from both sides in the clashes. Doctors Without Borders urges all parties to facilitate the evacuation of people wounded in the clashes near Aleppo, which it says had triggered a new wave of displaced families

neg: Chechens in Syria Chechens in Syria Chechens in Syria are ethnic Chechens who form a small minority in Syria. Syria is home to a substantial Chechen population who emigrated there due to the Chechen–Russian conflict. The initial Chechen migrants sometimes clashed with local Arab and Druze settlers, though they later peacefully integrated into Syrian society. After the Syrian Civil War's outbreak in 2011, however, about 3,000 Chechen militants also travelled to Syria in order to wage jihad there, and formed numerous anti-government militias. The most notable Chechen-led groups in Syria were Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar, the Caucasus Emirate (Syrian branch), Junud al-Sham and Ajnad

neg: Al-Nusra Front–SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict after clashes between the two sides, and subsequently established a number of checkpoints in the city. On 30 November, al-Nusra executed 13 Syrian rebels in Kawkaba, in the south of the Idlib province, after taking the village. The same day, al-Nusra stormed the town of Kafr Nabudah, after which SRF and FSA fighters in the town handed over all of their weapons. At the end of December 2014, al-Nusra seized another Hazzm Movement post in the Kafar Karmin area of the western countryside of Aleppo. On 29 January 2015, al-Nusra expelled the rebels from the Regiment 111 base in Aleppo

neg: Rojava conflict Parties in Syria, the Kurdish Union Party and the Kurdish Freedom Party, attended the summit. Anti-government protests had been ongoing in the Kurdish-inhabited areas of Syria since March 2011, as part of the wider Syrian uprising, but clashes started after the opposition Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and Kurdish National Council (KNC) signed a seven-point agreement on 11 June 2012 in Erbil under the auspice of Iraqi Kurdistan president Massoud Barzani. This agreement, however, failed to be implemented and so a new cooperation agreement between the two sides was signed on 12 July which saw the creation of the Kurdish

neg: 2008 conflict in Lebanon Minister Fouad Siniora. The opposition group was made up of pro-Syrian Hezbollah and Amal. A number of smaller parties were also involved, including the Marada Movement, the Lebanese Communist Party and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. Members of the government are part of the March 14 Alliance, a coalition of anti-Syrian political parties and former militias that include the Progressive Socialist Party, the Lebanese Forces and the Future Movement. The two groups are also divided along religious lines, the majority of Sunnis supporting the government and the Shi'a supporting the opposition group. Druze aligned with Walid Jumblatt support the government,

neg: Fast Attack Boats at the end of the first week of the war, these military supplies were sent via air, and even then arrived too late and in too few quantities to influence the outcome of the war. The legacy of the conflict instead lies in the debut of electronic countermeasures in naval combat and the widespread use of cruise missiles. The designer also takes liberties with the actual equipment and tactics both sides employed during the conflict. For example, "Fast Attack Boats" does not factor in Israel's highly effective electronic countermeasures that rendered the Arab Styx missiles largely useless, or the Syrian

neg: YPG–FSA relations and accept a fundamental Islam as their religion. Rebel groups in the Supreme Military Council of the Syrian Revolutionary Command Council tend to be in direct conflict with YPG. Some former FSA groups however merged into Euphrates Volcano, joining the Syrian Democratic Forces. YPG–FSA relations Relations between the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) are unclear and varied among the different FSA factions. Both are opposed to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. However, several clashes have taken place. Under pressure from the United States (who has assisted both), some FSA groups coordinate with

neg: Palestinian fedayeen he switched sides in the conflict, the smaller pro-Syrian factions within the Palestinian fedayeen camp, namely as-Sa'iqa and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command fought against Arafat's Fatah-led PLO. In 1988, after Arafat and al-Assad partially reconciled, Arafat loyalists in the refugee camps of Bourj al-Barajneh and Shatila attempted to force out Fatah al-Intifada—a pro-Syrian Fatah breakaway movement formed by Said al-Muragha in 1983. Instead, al-Muragha's forces overran Arafat loyalists from both camps after bitter fighting in which Fatah al-Intifada received backing from the Lebanese Amal militia. The PLO and other Palestinian armed movements became

neg: Opposition–ISIL conflict during the Syrian Civil War the camp the next day. However, ISIL militants re-entered the camp the following day and seized up to 90% of it. On 5 April 2015, rebels announced an offensive against ISIL in the Syrian desert and reportedly captured the Alyaniah mountains. The SOHR reported that seven fighters from both sides were killed in the al-Mahesa area. Three rebels were captured by ISIL as well. On 12 April, Jaysh al-Islam and allied forces launched a counter-attack on the ISIL-held Hajar al-Aswad district. On 17 April, Jaysh al-Islam and the 1st Brigade also launched an offensive against ISIL in the neighborhoods of

neg: Syrian Railways Powers, decided to recover the infrastructure south of Aleppo to the Lebanon in 1917. The Baghdad Railway created opportunity and problems for both sides, being unfinished but running just south of the then defined Syrian/Turkish border. Post war, the border was redrawn, and the railway was now north of the border. DHP reinstated the Tripoli line by 1921. From 1922 the Baghdad Railway was worked in succession by two French companies, who were liquidated in 1933 when the border was again redrawn, placing the Baghdad Railway section again in Syrian control. "Lignes Syriennes de Baghdad (LSB)" took over operations, a

neg: Syrian towns and villages depopulated in the Arab–Israeli conflict equally, including the article (al-, as-, etc.), but the diacritics are disregarded (for example ‘A is treated like a plain A). Caution: some names appear twice in different orthographic variations, originating from different sources. Alphabetical list; all parts of the name are treated equally, including the article (al-, as-, etc.), but the diacritics are disregarded (for example ‘A is treated like a plain A). Syrian towns and villages depopulated in the Arab–Israeli conflict Before the Six-Day War and Yom Kippur War, the Golan Heights comprised 312 inhabited areas, including 2 towns, 163 villages, and 108 farms. In 1966, the Syrian

neg: Piracy Both sides waged war against the respective enemies of their faith, and both used galleys as their primary weapons. Both sides also used captured or bought galley slaves to man the oars of their ships; the Muslims relying mostly on captured Christians, the Christians using a mix of Muslim slaves, Christian convicts and a small contingency of "buonavoglie", free men who out of desperation or poverty had taken to rowing. Historian Peter Earle has described the two sides of the Christian-Muslim Mediterranean conflict as "mirror image[s] of maritime predation, two businesslike fleets of plunderers set against each other". This conflict

neg: Syrian opposition Syrian opposition The Syrian opposition ( ', ) is an umbrella term for the political structure represented by the Syrian National Coalition and associated anti-government Syrian groups with certain territorial control in the form of a proto-state as an alternative Syrian government, claiming to be the legitimate Syrian Arab Republic and also sometimes known just as the Republic of Syria. The Syrian opposition evolved since the beginning of the Syrian conflict from groups calling for the overthrow of the Assad government in Syria and who have opposed its Ba'athist government. Prior to the Syrian Civil War, the term "opposition" ()

neg: Rape during the Syrian Civil War cases reported in December 2013. Jody Williams of the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict has said of the sexual violence being visited on the men, women and children of Syria, "With every war and major conflict, as an international community we say 'never again' to mass rape, Yet, in Syria, as countless women are again finding the war waged on their bodies--we are again standing by and wringing our hands." Rape during the Syrian Civil War During the Syrian civil war, there have been severe human rights violations, including rape which has been used as

neg: Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War a building in the suburbs, resulting in the latter group expelling the former from the building and the streets. The two groups also clashed over the recruitment of fighters from the Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union. On 28 April, Legion, supported by the al-Nursa Front and Ahrar ash-Sham, attacked JaI in eastern Ghouta, however, Ahrar ash-Sham denied involvement. The Rahman Legion's Air Defense Brigade subsequently defected to Jaysh al-Islam. By 17 May, more than 500 fighters on both sides and a dozen civilians had been killed in the fighting in East Ghouta. On 6 August 2017, 120 Ahrar al-Sham fighters in

neg: Pakistan–Syria relations the PAF and navy fighter pilots flew several of Syrian Air Forces' MiG 21 fighter jets and reportedly made aggressive patrols over Syrian-Israeli border. In 1974, during the height of the conflict, one of the PAF's notable fighter pilot Flight-Lieutenant Sattar Alvi who flew Syrian Air Force's MiG-21, shot down IAF's Mirage-IIIC fighter jet which was piloted by Captain M. Lutz. In other aerial engagement in following weeks in 1974, the PAF fighter pilot, Squadron-Leader Arif Manzoor, leading a MiG-21 wing, forced two Israeli Mirages-IIIs into a close combat, and shooting down both Mirage IIIs with the K-13 missiles. After

neg: Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict In a conversation with King Salman in March 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed interest in increased strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Although it has traditionally stayed out of the conflict despite relying on the region for oil, China has recently played both sides, and has had ties with Tehran for years. Although it has warm relations with the Assad government, China has not involved itself in the Syrian Civil War, instead supporting the Russian-led peace process and investing in Syria's reconstruction. China's increased involvement in the region has come at a time when Xi Jinping has sought to expand

neg: Deir ez-Zor campaign (September 2017–present) In this context, Institute for the Study of War expert Chris Kozak said that neither Russia nor the United States had an interest in escalating a conflict between themselves. "The real threat [is instead] that the partner forces on the ground—the SAA and the SDF—come close [to confrontation] before the US and Russia can slow them down." The Syrian government and the SDF are rivals in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, as both sides want to capture the region's natural resources (most importantly its oil fields). On 17 September, the SDF captured a textile factory and a roundabout 7 km from

neg: Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (May–December 2013) border reported a loud explosion. The United Nations updated their estimated death toll of the entire conflict to 80,000. The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution (GA/11372) adopting a "Text Condemning Violence in Syria, Demanding That All Sides End Hostilities". The resolution passed the General Assembly by a vote of 107 in favor to 12 against, with 59 abstentions. The twelve countries voting against the resolution were Belarus, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Iran, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Most of these countries, known in some circles as the "Gang of Twelve", are

neg: Arab–Israeli conflict Iran (predominantly Shia) has cut ties with the Sunni Hamas movement on account of the latter's support for the opposition in the Syrian Civil War. Some groups opposed to the peace process invoke religious arguments for their uncompromising positions. The contemporary history of the Arab–Israeli conflict is very much affected by the religious beliefs of the various sides and their views of the idea of the chosen people in their policies with regard to the "Promised Land" and the "Chosen City" of Jerusalem. The Land of Canaan or "Eretz Yisrael" (Land of Israel) was, according to the Hebrew Bible, promised

neg: Aqrab massacre War. As the ethnic and religious composition was mixed both sides had support from various factions. The ruling party has numerous political leaders belonging to the Alawite minority in Syria, but neither side of the conflict had labeled sectarianism as a major cause of the conflict. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that multiple attacks killed or wounded 125 civilians, mostly Alawites, in Aqrab. SOHR blamed pro-Assad forces for committing the massacre, based on testimony by Alawites held by the FSA. An Alawite resident, from the nearby town of Masyaf, blamed the attack on rebels stating that they

neg: Kurdistan Workers' Party the pressure and the undeclared war between Turkey and Syria ended open Syrian support. The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Turkey for human rights abuses during the conflict. Some judgements are related to executions of Kurdish civilians, torturing, forced displacements, destroyed villages, arbitrary arrests, murdered and disappeared Kurdish journalists, activists and politicians. As a result of increasing Kurdish population and activism, the Turkish parliament began a controlled process of dismantling some anti-Kurdish legislation, using the term "normalization" or "rapprochement," depending on the sides of the issue. It partially relaxed the bans on broadcasting and publishing in the Kurdish

neg: Rojava conflict the region by way of Islamic fundamentalism. Finally, there were several militias under the general banner of the Free Syrian Army whose intentions and alliances have differed and shifted over time. While conflict between the YPG and the Syrian government has not been as active as fighting against Islamist forces, there have been several conflicts between the two forces. Territory once controlled by the Syrian government in both Qamishli and al-Hasakah has been lost to YPG forces. At the end of April 2016, clashes erupted between government forces and Kurdish fighters for the control of the city. As of the

neg: Lebanese Civil War Also, the only political person who remained in East Beirut Achrafiyeh all the 100 days was the president Camille Chamoun, and refused to get out of the area. It was fought between the Maronite, and the Syrian troops of the Arab Deterrent Force (ADF). The Syrian troops shelled the Christian Beirut area of Achrafiyeh for 100 days. The conflict resulted in Syrian Army's expulsion from East Beirut, the end of Arab Deterrent Force's task in Lebanon and revealed the true intentions of the Syrians in Lebanon. The conflict resulted in 160 dead and 400 injured. PLO attacks from Lebanon into

neg: Syrian Petroleum Company Petroleum Company and Al-Furat Petroleum Company, as well as in a number of Syrian oil fields. India has made two significant investments in Syria in the oil sector in the pre-conflict days. First, an agreement was signed in January 2004 between Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and IPR International for exploration of oil and natural gas in Block 24 near Deir ez-Zor in northern Syria. Second, investments by India‘s ONGC and China‘s CNPC to jointly acquire the 37% stake of PetroCanada in the Syrian Al Furat Petroleum Company. The conflict and subsequent sanctions have slowed down ONGC’s operations in

neg: Syrian peace process any contacts on peaceful resolution to the conflict. The attempts to find a solution to the Syrian conflict and bringing stability to the Middle East began in late 2011, when the Arab League launched two initiatives, but without much success. Russia in January 2012 and in November 2013 suggested talks in Moscow between the Syrian government and opposition. In March–May 2012, hopes were on a United Nations/Arab League plan coordinated by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. In January and February 2014, the Geneva II Conference on Syria took place, organised by then-UN envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi. On 30 October

neg: Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War The inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War has continued throughout the Syrian Civil War as factions of the Syrian opposition and Free Syrian Army have fought with shifting alliances among Islamist factions such as Jabhat al Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, Jaysh al-Islam and the Islamic Front (Syria)|Islamic Front]]. On 26 July 2012, FSA fighters stormed an outpost near a border crossing with Turkey in northern Syria manned by 40 foreign al-Qaeda fighters which held John Cantlie and several other journalists prisoners. The journalists escaped to the border crossing during the infighting and the

neg: Syrian Civil War Syrian government and the opposition have received support, militarily and diplomatically, from foreign countries leading the conflict to often be described as a proxy war. The major parties supporting the Syrian Government are Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. The main Syrian opposition body – the Syrian coalition – receives political, logistic and military support from the United States, Britain and France. The pro-government countries are involved in the war politically and logistically by providing military equipment, training and battle troops. The Syrian government has also received arms from Russia and SIGINT support directly from GRU, in addition to significant political support

neg: Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) the Kurds—who are mostly Sunnis—in the northeast of Iraq, were unwilling to be drawn into the conflict, and there were clashes in the area between ISIL and the Kurdish Peshmerga. ISIL executed 1,700 Iraq soldiers who had surrendered in the fighting and released many images of mass executions via its Twitter feed and various websites. In late June, ISIS militants captured two key crossings in Anbar, a day after seizing the border crossing at Al-Qaim. According to analysts, capturing these crossings could aid ISIL in transporting weapons and equipment to different battlefields. Two days later, the Syrian Air Force bombed

neg: Women in Syria for women. In 1967 Syrian women formed a quasi-governmental organization called the General Union of Syrian Women (GUSW), a coalition of women's welfare societies, educational associations, and voluntary councils intended to achieve equal opportunity for women in Syria. The year 2011 marked the beginning of the conflict throughout Syria where many innocent civilians fell victims to the war perpetuated by the freedom fighters, who targeted hospitals, schools and the country’s infrastructure. And in rebel held areas, women were particularly targeted due to them being perceived as weak and lesser than men. The Syrian women in conflict areas were terrorized and

neg: Human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War further said that soldiers who refused were shot by the army Also in 2012, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide angrily declared that rape during the Bosnian War "is repeating itself in Syria—tens of thousands of rapes." A report released 14 January 2013 by the International Rescue Committee stated that a primary reason Syrian refugees flee is because of fear of rape. By late November 2013, according to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) report entitled "Violence against Women, Bleeding Wound in the Syrian Conflict", approximately 6,000 women have been raped (including gang-rape) since the start of the conflict -

neg: Iran–Israel proxy conflict advanced weapons via Syria to Hezbollah. Two rebel sources told Reuters that "five strikes hit an ammunition depot used by Iran-backed militias." On 7 September 2017, "the Guardian" reported that the Syrian military said in a statement that Israeli jets carried out airstrikes on the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre, a Syrian government military research facility where it was rumoured to contain chemical weapons near the city of Masyaf, Hama Governorate, killing at least two Syrian Army soldiers. The missiles were fired from Lebanese air space; the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and other sources, identified the target as

neg: The Shaikh Group United States, we have the capacity to convene dialogues with key parties throughout the region and beyond, and a strong commitment to the principles of independence and confidentiality that are essential to these processes. The TSG team launched the Syria Track II Dialogue Initiative, a project aiming to promote dialogue and build consensus among key Syrian actors, helping them put forward actionable proposals for a Syrian-led future political process to end the conflict in Syria. In order to put an end to the intractable Syrian conflict – a war that has caused more than half a million casualties, over five