Syria Unrest — International Points

Introduction

Syria is among the oldest locations the place civilization has thought to have began. Its capital, Damascus, is among the oldest constantly inhabited cities on this planet. All through historical past it has seen many modifications, violent and in any other case.

Right now it’s comprised of various ethnic teams, largely Arab, although an affordable variety of Kurds, Armenians are additionally current. There have additionally been various Iraqi refugees and the primary Arab group are themselves from totally different sects and denominations.

Round January 2011, following on from the Arab Spring the place protests towards ruling regimes erupted in various Center East international locations, protesters in Syria got here out demanding President Bashar al-Assad and his authorities step down. In response, Assad despatched in troops with some cities and areas being besieged for weeks and months. Each professional and anti-government protest gatherings have at occasions been massive.

Criticism of Syria’s crackdown has been fairly widespread. The Arab League has responded by suspending Syria’s membership. Syria claims that it’s combating an insurgency that’s terrorist by nature and claimed Al Qaeda is concerned. It has not been attainable to confirm that declare so many see it as a cynical excuse.

The ruling regime is a sect of Shia, so has assist from Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah, whereas the opposition is basically Sunni, thus receiving assist from different Center East international locations, akin to Saudi Arabia and others.

1000’s have been killed — civilians and armed combatants. Some are asking the West for a navy intervention like there was in Libya, however the US specifically isn’t eager on one other navy intervention despite the fact that they’ve been brazenly hostile and significant of the Syrian ruling regime for a few years.

China and Russia even have shut ties with Syria and up to now haven’t been eager on any motion condemning Syria and have even vetoed some actions. Some papers have reported Iran and others serving to Syria with weapons, whereas others additionally talked about the opposition being armed by the West.

Mainstream media protection is after all a part of the problem; understandably the brutal regime crackdown has been met with shock, horror, and many others. However the protection has additionally been one-sided within the sense that comparable sorts of violence dedicated by US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan don’t obtain comparable criticism, however a lot flatter and measured reporting as an alternative. Media Lens covers this level in rather more element mentioning many propaganda issues in mainstream media protection and is value studying.

Again to prime

The place subsequent?

<p>Anup Shah, <a href="https://www.globalissues.org/article/799/syria">Syria Unrest</a>, <cite>International Points</cite>, Created: June 05, 2012</p>