Syrian Civil War 2011-2012 - Societa italiana di storia militare

In an interview published 31 January 2011, al-Assad declared it was time to reform, that the protests in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen
indicated a "new era" was coming to the Middle East, and that Arab rulers needed to do more to accommodate their peoples' rising
political and economic aspirations. [93]
Women and ethnic minorities have faced discrimination in the public sector. [90] Thousands of Syrian Kurds were denied citizenship in
1962, and their descendants continued to be labeled as "foreigners" until 2011, when 120,000 out of roughly 200,000 stateless Kurds
were granted citizenship on 6 April. [94] Because the government is dominated by the Alawite sect, it has had to make some gestures
toward the majority Sunni sects and other minority populations in order to retain power.
Uprising and civil war Main article: Timeline of the Syrian civil war
Summary
When limited protests first began early in 2011, Assad instituted a policy of combining harsh repression with tardy political
concessions. [97]:8 For example, in early June 2011, several hundred political detainees were released following the issuance of an
amnesty on 31 May 2011, but at the same time Syrian security forces escalated their response to the demonstrations by deploying
military forces to areas where protest was most intense. [98]:4 This violence led to a dramatic expansion in both the numbers of people
protesting and to an extension of the issues they protested about. [98]:3 Violence began to increase dramatically after March 2012, as
Assad moved against opposition fighters who were becoming better armed and organised thanks to substantial external assistance. [99]
By June 2012, deaths of Syrian armed forces had increased appreciably; nevertheless, the conflict retained a protracted
outlook. [100][101]
Protests The protest movement in Syria was at first modest, and took a while to gain momentum. The events began on 26 January
2011, [103] when Hasan Ali Akleh from Al-Hasakah poured gasoline on himself and set himself on fire, in the same way Tunisian
Mohamed Bouazizi had in Tunis on 17 December 2010. According to eyewitnesses, the action was "a protest against the Syrian
government". [104][105] Two days later, on 28 January 2011, an evening demonstration was held in Ar-Raqqah to protest the killing of
two soldiers of Kurdish descent. [106]
On 3 February, a "Day of Rage" was called for in Syria from 4 to 5 February on social media websites Facebook and Twitter;
however, protests failed to materialize within the country itself. [107] Hundreds marched in Al-Hasakah, but Syrian security forces
dispersed the protest and arrested dozens of demonstrators. [108] Al Jazeera labeled Syria a "kingdom of silence", concluding that
protests would not succeed due to the popularity of al-Assad and concerns over the prospects of insurgency like that seen in
neighboring Iraq. [109] A protest in late February at the Libyan Embassy in Damascus to demonstrate against the government of
Muammar Gaddafi, facing his own major protests in Libya, was met with brutal beatings from Syrian police moving to disperse the
demonstration against a friendly regime. [110]
On 6 March, Time magazine ran a story which analysed the state of the Syrian youth and why, despite some individuals being
extremely critical of the government, it would be unlikely for this anger to develop into a full-fledged uprising. [111] Ribal al-Assad said
that it was almost time for Syria to be the next domino in the burgeoning Arab Spring. [112] Indeed, on 15 March, the protest movement
began to escalate, as simultaneous demonstrations took place in major cities across Syria. [113] Increasingly, the city of Daraa became
the focal point for the growing uprising. This city has been straining under the influx of internal refugees who were forced to leave
their northeastern lands due to a drought which was exacerbated by the government's lack of provision. [114] Over 100,000 people
reportedly marched in Daraa on 25 March, but at least 20 protesters were reportedly killed. [115] Protests also spread to other Syrian
cities, including Homs, Hama, Baniyas, Jassem, Aleppo, Damascus and Latakia. Over 70 protesters in total were reported dead. [116]
Late in the month, the first signs were seen that the government was willing to make concessions to the protesters, when al-Assad
announced the release of as many as 200 political prisoners. [117] An Assad adviser said the emergency law would be lifted, [118] and
Assad accepted the official resignation of the government led by Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otari. [119] Assad denied the
emergency law would be lifted at the end of March, however. [120]
In April, the uprising became more extensive, and more violent. Protesters were shot at on 1 April, leading to at least 10 deaths. [121]
Well over 30 people were killed in a crackdown on protests on 8 April, activists and human rights groups claimed. [122] Tens of
thousands of protesters were prevented from entering Damascus from Douma on 15 April, though this restriction did not prevent
widespread protests in many Syrian cities. [123] Other cities where protesting was particularly strong were in Daraa, Baniyas, Al-
Qamishli and Homs. [124][125] There were also protests in Douma and Harasta, suburbs of Damascus. Firing throughout the country
resulted 88 deaths among security forces and protesters, making it the bloodiest day so far. [124] Tanks and soldiers entered Daraa and
Douma and the border with Jordan was also closed. [126] According to an activist, 18 people were killed in Daraa. [127] Al Jazeera
reported that some soldiers appeared to have been shot by their own comrades-in-arms after refusing orders to fire on protesters. [128]
On 29 April, more than 60 protesters were killed in demonstrations across Syria. The United States responded with harsh sanctions
against the Syrian government. [129]
Domestic response Main article: Syrian reactions to the Syrian civil war
Concessions On 19 March 2011 by legislative decree 35, Assad shortened the length of mandatory army conscription from 21 months
to 18 months. [130] On 20 March, the Syrian government announced that it would release 15 children who had been arrested on 6 March
for writing pro-democracy graffiti. [131] On 23 March, by regional decree 120, Faisal Ahmad Kolthoum was removed as Governor of
Daraa. [132] On 24 March, Assad's media adviser, Buthaina Shaaban, said that the government will be "studying the possibility of lifting
the emergency law and licensing political parties". The Syrian government also announced a cut in personal taxation rates, an increase
in public sector salaries of 1,500 Syrian pounds ($32.60 US) a month and pledges to increase press freedom, create more employment
opportunities, and reduce corruption. [133] The government, dominated by the Alawite sect, also made some concessions to the majority
Sunni and some minority populations in April. On 6 April, it was reported that teachers would once again be allowed to wear the
niqab, and that the government had closed the country's only casino. [134] Of the 200,000 descendants of Syrian Kurds denied
citizenship in 1962, 120,000 who were labeled "foreigners" were granted citizenship. [94]
On 19 April, a bill was approved by the Syrian government to lift the emergency law. [135] Two days later, Assad signed legislative
decree 50 into law, together with decrees abolishing the Supreme State Security Court and regulating the right to peaceful
demonstration. [136] On 30 April, Prime Minister Adel Safar announced a comprehensive plan for reforms in the coming weeks in three
areas: political reform, security and judicial reform; economic reform and social policies; and the development of administration and
governmental work. [137]