History of Syria in Timeline

Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a West Asian country in the Eastern Mediterranean and Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east and southeast, Jordan to the south, and Israel and Lebanon to the southwest. Damascus is the capital and largest city. With a population of 25 million across an area of 185,180 square kilometers, it is the 57th-most populous and 87th-largest country.

1916: Sykes-Picot Agreement

In 1916, during World War I, Allied diplomats (Frenchman François Georges-Picot and Briton Mark Sykes) secretly agreed on the post-war division of the Ottoman Empire into respective zones of influence in the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

1918: Negotiation with France

In 1918, the discovery of oil in the region of Mosul led to another negotiation with France to cede this region to the British zone of influence, which was to become Iraq.

1920: Syria became a League of Nations mandate

In 1920, Syria became a League of Nations mandate and this internationally recognized border has not changed to date.

1920: Establishment of the Kingdom of Syria and French Occupation

In 1920, a short-lived independent Kingdom of Syria was established under Faisal I, but his rule ended after a few months. French troops occupied Syria later that year after the San Remo conference put Syria under a French mandate.

July 1925: Battle of al-Kafr

On July 21, 1925, Sultan al-Atrash won the Battle of al-Kafr against the French during a revolt that broke out in the Druze Mountain.

August 1925: Battle of al-Mazraa

On August 2-3, 1925, Sultan al-Atrash won the Battle of al-Mazraa against the French during a revolt that broke out in the Druze Mountain.

1927: Resistance Lasted Until Spring

In 1927, resistance against the French in Syria lasted until the spring, even though the French had regained many cities.

September 1936: Treaty of Independence Negotiated

In September 1936, Syria and France negotiated a treaty of independence, and Hashim al-Atassi was the first president to be elected, but the treaty was not ratified by the French Legislature.

1937: Al-Atrash Returned to Syria

In 1937, Sultan al-Atrash returned to Syria after the signing of the Syrian-French Treaty, having been pardoned after escaping to Transjordan with rebels.

1939: French Allow Plebiscite Regarding Sanjak of Alexandretta

In 1939, while Syria was still a French mandate, the French allowed a plebiscite regarding the Sanjak of Alexandretta joining Turkey, leading to the formation of the Hatay Province of Turkey.

1940: Syria Under Control of Vichy France

In 1940, with the fall of France during World War II, Syria came under the control of Vichy France.

1940: Discovery of Natural Gas

Natural gas was discovered at the field of Jbessa in 1940.

July 1941: British and Free French Occupation

In July 1941, the British and Free French occupied Syria during the Syria-Lebanon campaign, taking it from Vichy France.

1945: Syria Gained Independence

In 1945, the First Syrian Republic gained de jure independence as a parliamentary republic, becoming a founding member of the United Nations, which legally ended the French Mandate.

April 1946: French Troops Withdrew

In April 1946, French troops withdrew from Syria, granting the nation de facto independence.

April 1946: French Evacuation

In April 1946, continuing pressure from Syrian nationalists and the British forced the French to evacuate their troops, leaving the country in the hands of a republican government.

1946: Agriculture as the most important sector

At independence in 1946, agriculture (including minor forestry and fishing) was the most important sector of the Syrian economy and the fastest growing sector in the 1940s and early 1950s.

May 1948: Syrian Forces Invaded Palestine

In May 1948, Syrian forces invaded Palestine, along with other Arab states, and immediately attacked Jewish settlements with the intent to prevent the establishment of the state of Israel.

1948: Establishment of Israel

In 1948, with the establishment of Israel, the remaining Jewish population in Syria dwindled.

March 1949: Syrian Coup d'état

In March 1949, Colonel Husni al-Za'im led the Syrian coup d'état, described as the first military overthrow of the Arab World since the start of the Second World War.

1949: Multiple Coup Attempts

Between 1949 and 1971, the post-independence period in Syria was tumultuous, marked by multiple coup attempts.

1949: Syrian Government Recognizes Turkish Sovereignty Briefly

In 1949, the Syrian government briefly recognized Turkish sovereignty over the Sanjak of Alexandretta.

1953: Agricultural output stagnation

Between 1953 and 1976, agriculture's contribution to GDP increased by only 3.2%, approximately the rate of population growth, due to political instability and land reform.

1954: Overthrow of Shishakli

In 1954, Shishakli was overthrown in a coup, and the parliamentary system was restored in Syria.

November 1956: Syria Signed a Pact with the Soviet Union

In November 1956, as a direct result of the Suez Crisis, Syria signed a pact with the Soviet Union which gave a foothold for communist influence within the government in exchange for military equipment.

1956: Discovery of Petroleum

Petroleum in commercial quantities was first discovered in the northeast in 1956.

February 1958: Creation of the United Arab Republic

On February 1, 1958, Syrian President Shukri al-Quwatli and Egypt's Nasser announced the merging of Egypt and Syria, creating the United Arab Republic.

September 1958: Law 134 Passed

The first law passed (Law 134; passed 4 September 1958) was in response to concern about peasant mobilization and expanding peasants' rights.

1958: Agrarian Reform Measures

Agrarian reform measures were introduced consisting of legislation regulating the relationship between agriculture laborers and landowners in 1958.

1958: Union with Egypt

In 1958, Syria entered a brief pan-Arab union with Egypt.

1960: Introduction of Television

Television was introduced to Syria (and Egypt) in 1960, when both were part of the United Arab Republic.

September 1961: Syria Seceded from the United Arab Republic

On September 28, 1961, Syria seceded from the union with Egypt after a coup and terminated the political union.

1961: Progress in Land Redistribution

Despite high levels of inequality in land ownership these reforms allowed for more progress in redistribution of land from 1958 to 1961 than any other reforms in Syria's history, since independence.

1961: Coup Ended Union with Egypt

In 1961, a coup d'état terminated Syria's pan-Arab union with Egypt.

1961: Instability

The instability followed the 1961 coup.

March 1963: Ba'athist coup

On 8 March 1963, the Ba'athist coup occurred. The takeover was engineered by members of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party.

1963: Ba'ath Party Coup

In 1963, a coup d'état by the military committee of the Ba'ath Party established a one-party state in Syria, which ran the country under martial law from 1963 to 2011.

1963: Emergency Law enacted

In 1963, the Emergency Law was enacted in Syria, suspending most constitutional protections. The government justified this due to the ongoing war with Israel over the Golan Heights.

February 1966: Intra-Party Rebellion

On February 23, 1966, the neo-Ba'athist Military Committee carried out an intra-party rebellion against the Ba'athist Old Guard, imprisoned President Amin al-Hafiz and designated a regionalist, civilian Ba'ath government on 1 March.

1966: Further Coups

In 1966, internal power-struggles within Ba'athist factions caused further coups in Syria.

1967: Six-Day War

In 1967, when the Six-Day War broke out between Egypt and Israel, Syria joined the war and attacked Israel as well. Israel then captured two-thirds of the Golan Heights.

1967: Israel Occupies Golan Heights

Since 1967, the western two-thirds of Syria's Golan Heights region has been occupied by Israel.

1968: Iraqi-led ba'ath Movement

In 1968, the coup led to the establishment of the Iraqi-led ba'ath movement that ruled Iraq from 1968 to 2003.

November 1970: Hafez al-Assad Deposed Salah Jadid

From 1966 until November 1970, Salah Jadid was Syria's effective ruler, when he was deposed by Hafez al-Assad, who at the time was Minister of Defense.

November 1970: Syrian Corrective Movement

In November 1970, the Syrian Corrective Movement, a bloodless military coup, installed Hafez al-Assad as the strongman of the government.

1970: Hafez al-Assad Comes to Power

In 1970, a coup saw Hafez al-Assad come to power in Syria, which then became a hereditary dictatorship under Assad.

1970: Black September in Jordan

In 1970, the retreat of Syrian forces sent to aid the Palestine Liberation Organization during the "Black September (also known as the Jordan Civil War of 1970)" hostilities with Jordan reflected a disagreement between Jadid and Assad.

1971: Multiple Coup Attempts

Between 1949 and 1971, the post-independence period in Syria was tumultuous, marked by multiple coup attempts.

January 1973: Implementation of New Constitution and National Crisis

On January 31, 1973, Hafez al-Assad implemented a new constitution that did not require the President of Syria to be a Muslim. This led to demonstrations organized by the Muslim Brotherhood and the ulama in Hama, Homs, and Aleppo.

October 1973: Yom Kippur War

On 6 October 1973, Syria and Egypt initiated the Yom Kippur War against Israel, with the Israel Defense Forces eventually reversing initial Syrian gains.

1974: Disengagement Agreement with Syria

In December 2024, Israel's actions violated the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria.

1974: Petroleum becomes Syria's leading resource

Petroleum became Syria's leading natural resource and chief export after 1974.

1976: Agriculture's contribution to GDP

By 1985, agriculture (including forestry and fishing) contributed only 16.5% to Syria's GDP, down from 22.1% in 1976.

1976: Decline in agricultural growth

From 1976 to 1984, growth in Syrian agriculture declined to 2% per year, and its importance in the economy diminished as other sectors grew more rapidly.

1976: Color Television Introduced

In 1976, television broadcasting transitioned from black and white to color in Syria.

1976: Armed Revolts Against the Government

In 1976, the Syrian government faced a series of armed revolts, primarily led by Islamists of the Muslim Brotherhood.

1976: Syria Enters Lebanon

In early 1976, Syria entered Lebanon, beginning a 29-year military presence. Syria entered on the invitation of Suleiman Franjieh, the Maronite Christian president.

1981: Rural population

In 1981, 53% of the Syrian population was classified as rural, and movement to the cities continued to accelerate.

1981: Israel Annexes Golan Heights

In 1981, Israel effectively annexed the western two-thirds of Syria's Golan Heights region, a move not recognized in international law.

1981: Israel Occupies Shebaa Farms

In 1981, Israel occupied the Shebaa farms, located in the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, along with the rest of the Golan Heights.

1982: Government Survives Armed Revolts Through Repressions and Massacres

By 1982, the Syrian government had survived a series of armed revolts, mostly led by Islamists of the Muslim Brotherhood, through repressions and massacres.

1982: Hama Massacre

In 1982, the Hama massacre occurred, where Syrian military troops and Ba'athist paramilitaries killed between 2,000 and 40,000 people in response to an Islamist uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood.

1983: Agriculture's employment share

By 1983, agriculture in Syria employed only 30% of the labor force, contrasting with 50% in the 1970s.

1984: Decline in agricultural growth

From 1976 to 1984, growth in Syrian agriculture declined to 2% per year, and its importance in the economy diminished as other sectors grew more rapidly.

1985: Agriculture's contribution to GDP

By 1985, agriculture (including forestry and fishing) contributed only 16.5% to Syria's GDP, down from 22.1% in 1976.

1985: Increased investment in agriculture

In 1985, the Syrian investment budget saw a sharp rise in allocations for agriculture, including land reclamation and irrigation.

1991: Participation in the Gulf War and Madrid Conference

In 1991, Syria participated in the United States-led Gulf War against Saddam Hussein and the multilateral Madrid Conference, marking a major shift in relations with Arab states and the Western world.

June 2000: Bashar al-Assad Elected President

On 10 June 2000, Hafez al-Assad died and his son, Bashar al-Assad, was elected president in an unopposed election.

2000: GDP growth rate

Between 2000 and 2008, the real per capita GDP growth in Syria was just 2.5% per year, indicating a moderate economic expansion before the civil war.

2000: Bashar al-Assad Succeeds Hafez al-Assad

In 2000, Hafez al-Assad died and was succeeded by his son, Bashar al-Assad.

2000: Hezbollah Claims Shebaa Farms

In 2000, after Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, Hezbollah claimed that the withdrawal was not complete because Shebaa was on Lebanese territory.

2000: Failed Negotiations with Israel

In 2000, negotiations between Syria and Israel failed after Assad's meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton in Geneva, and no further direct talks have occurred since.

2001: Suppression of the Damascus Spring

By autumn 2001, the authorities had suppressed the Damascus Spring movement, imprisoning some of its leading intellectuals.

2001: Erosion of Syria's share in global exports

Since 2001, Syria's share in global exports has gradually eroded, reflecting changes in the country's economy.

October 2003: Israeli Bombing near Damascus

On 5 October 2003, Israel bombed a site near Damascus, claiming it was a terrorist training facility.

2003: Iraqi-led ba'ath Movement

In 1968, the coup led to the establishment of the Iraqi-led ba'ath movement that ruled Iraq from 1968 to 2003.

March 2004: Clashes in al-Qamishli

In March 2004, Syrian Kurds and Arabs clashed in al-Qamishli, with signs of rioting seen in Qamishli and Hasakeh.

2004: Increase in poverty rates

In 2004, poverty rates in Syria stood at 11%. This figure increased to 12.3% by 2007.

2005: Syria ends military presence in Lebanon

In 2005, Syria ended its military presence in Lebanon, and the assassination of Rafic Hariri triggered the Cedar Revolution, forcing the Assad regime to end its 29-year military occupation.

2005: Syrian Military Withdraws from Lebanon

In 2005, the Syrian military withdrew from Lebanon in response to domestic and international pressure after the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

2005: UNDP poverty assessment

In 2005, the UNDP announced that 30% of the Syrian population lived in poverty, and 11.4% lived below the subsistence level.

2005: Decrease in Obligatory Military Service Period

In 2005, the obligatory military service period in Syria was decreased from two and a half years to two years.

2006: High population growth

In 2006, Syria faced a challenge with a high population growth rate of 2.7%, leading to rapidly increasing demand for urban and industrial water.

September 2007: Operation Orchard

On 6 September 2007, foreign jet fighters, suspected to be Israeli, reportedly carried out Operation Orchard against a suspected nuclear reactor under construction by North Korean technicians.

2007: Main exports

In 2007, Syria's main exports included crude oil, refined products, raw cotton, clothing, fruits, and grains.

2008: Refugee population

According to the World Refugee Survey 2008, Syria hosted a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately 1,852,300, with the majority from Iraq, Palestine and Somalia.

2008: GDP growth rate

Between 2000 and 2008, the real per capita GDP growth in Syria was just 2.5% per year, indicating a moderate economic expansion before the civil war.

2008: Physicians and Nurses per Capita

In 2008, Syria had 14.9 physicians and 18.5 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants.

2008: Decrease in Obligatory Military Service Period

In 2008, the obligatory military service period in Syria was decreased to 21 months.

2010: Human Rights Watch Criticizes Syria's Human Rights Record

In 2010, Human Rights Watch referred to Syria's human rights record as "among the worst in the world."

2010: Syria classified as lower middle income country

In 2010, at the outset of the civil war, Syria was classified by the World Bank as a "lower middle income country," dependent on the oil and agriculture sectors, with the oil sector providing about 40% of export earnings.

2010: Healthcare Spending and Life Expectancy

In 2010, spending on healthcare accounted for 3.4% of Syria's GDP, and the life expectancy at birth was 75.7 years (74.2 for males and 77.3 for females).

2010: Value of overall exports

In 2010, the value of overall Syrian exports was US$12 billion, before the civil war significantly impacted the economy.

2010: Syrian GDP baseline

The World Bank estimated that the Syrian GDP had contracted by 84% from 2010 to 2023.

January 2011: Start of Syrian Revolution

On 26 January 2011, public demonstrations began across Syria as part of the Arab Spring, developing into a nationwide uprising demanding the resignation of Assad and an end to Ba'ath Party rule.

March 2011: Civilian Casualties in the Syrian Civil War

Between March 2011 and March 2021, over 306,000 civilians were killed in the Syrian civil war.

March 2011: Beginning of displacement

By 2014, in what the UN has described as "the biggest humanitarian emergency of our era", about 9.5 million Syrians, half the population, had been displaced since March 2011.

April 2011: Emergency Law suspended

In April 2011, specifically on April 21, the Emergency Law, which had suspended most constitutional protections, was lifted after being in effect since 1963.

November 2011: UN Reports Deaths and Rapes During Syrian Uprising

As of November 9, 2011, during the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, the United Nations reported that of the over 3,500 deaths, over 250 deaths were children as young as two years old, and that boys as young as 11 years old have been gang-raped by security services officers.

November 2011: Syria Suspended from the Arab League

In November 2011, following the violent suppression of the Arab Spring protests of the Syrian Revolution, the Syrian government was suspended from the Arab League.

December 2011: Arab League Observer Mission

In December 2011, the Arab League sent an observer mission to Syria as part of its proposal for peaceful resolution of the crisis, after suspending Syria's membership over the government's response to protests.

2011: End of Martial Law

From 1963 to 2011, Syria was under martial law, established by the Ba'ath Party. The martial law ended in 2011.

2011: Abolishment of the Supreme State Security Court

In 2011, Bashar al-Assad abolished the Supreme State Security Court.

2011: Decrease in Obligatory Military Service Period

In 2011, the obligatory military service period in Syria was decreased to a year and a half.

2011: Arrests of internet activists

In Syria, because of internet censorship laws, 13,000 internet activists were arrested in 2011 and 2012.

2011: Start of Syrian Civil War

Since the Arab Spring in 2011, Syria has been embroiled in a multi-sided civil war with the involvement of several countries, leading to a refugee crisis.

2011: Syria's Increasing Isolation Due to Civil War

Since the start of the civil war in 2011, Syria has been increasingly isolated from the international community. Diplomatic relations have been severed with several countries.

2011: Freedom House Ranks Syria "Not Free"

The 2011 Freedom House report ranked Syria "Not Free" in its annual Freedom in the World survey.

July 2012: Massacre in Hama

On July 12, 2012, people opposing President Assad's rule claimed that more than 200, mostly civilians, were massacred and about 300 injured in Hama in shelling by the government forces.

August 2012: Syria Suspended from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

In August 2012, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation suspended Syria, citing "deep concern at the massacres and inhuman acts" perpetrated by forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad.

2012: Syrian Constitution and Presidential Elections

According to the 2012 constitution, the President of Syria was elected directly by Syrian citizens.

2012: Value of overall exports slashed

As of 2012, the value of overall Syrian exports was slashed by two-thirds, falling from US$12 billion in 2010 to only US$4 billion.

2012: Sanctions and bans on oil imports go into effect

In 2012, U.S. and European Union bans on oil imports went into effect, costing Syria an estimated $400 million per month.

2012: Syrian Constitution and Power Dynamics

In 2012, according to the Syrian constitution, the President of Syria was the head of state, while the Prime Minister was nominally the head of government. Real power, however, resided with the presidency. The People's Assembly was responsible for passing laws and debating policy.

2012: Rojava Gains De Facto Autonomy

In 2012, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), also known as Rojava, gained its de facto autonomy during the Rojava conflict and the wider Syrian civil war.

2012: Arrests of internet activists

In Syria, because of internet censorship laws, 13,000 internet activists were arrested in 2011 and 2012.

August 2013: Suspected use of chemical weapons

In August 2013, the Syrian government was suspected of using chemical weapons against civilians. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stated it was "undeniable" that chemical weapons had been used and condemned al-Assad's forces for a "moral obscenity."

2013: Formation of the Syrian Interim Government

In 2013, during the Syrian civil war, the Syrian Interim Government was formed to control northern areas of the country and operated independently of the Syrian Arab Republic.

2013: Syrian Interim Government at the Arab League

In 2013, representatives of the Syrian Interim Government were invited to take up Syria's seat at the Arab League and were recognized as the "sole representative of the Syrian people" by several nations.

August 2014: UN Human Rights chief criticizes international community

In August 2014, UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay criticized the international community's "paralysis" in dealing with the Syrian civil war, which had resulted in 191,369 deaths and alleged war crimes.

2014: Displacement of Syrians

By 2014, about 9.5 million Syrians had been displaced since March 2011, with 4 million outside the country as refugees, marking a significant humanitarian crisis.

2014: Damascus University Student Count

In 2014, Damascus University had 210,000 students.

2014: ISIS Seizes Territory

In 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) seized control of large parts of Eastern Syria amidst the ongoing civil war, prompting a United States-led coalition to launch an aerial bombing campaign.

2014: Intervention Against Islamic State

In response to rapid territorial gains made by the Islamic State during the civil war in 2014 and 2015, several countries intervened on behalf of various factions opposing it.

May 2015: ISIS captures Syria's phosphate mines

In May 2015, ISIS captured Syria's phosphate mines, which were one of the Syrian government's last chief sources of income.

July 2015: Internally Displaced People

As of July 2015, the Syrian civil war had led to an estimated 7.6 million internally displaced people according to UNHCR figures.

2015: Intervention Against Islamic State

In response to rapid territorial gains made by the Islamic State during the civil war in 2014 and 2015, several countries intervened on behalf of various factions opposing it.

April 2016: Syrian Parliamentary Elections and International Response

On April 13, 2016, parliamentary elections were held in government-controlled areas of Syria for the People's Council. Several nations, including Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom, refused to accept the results, while the Russian Federation voiced its support.

August 2016: Turkey Launches Invasion of Northern Syria

In August 2016, Turkey launched a multi-pronged invasion of northern Syria, fighting ISIS and government forces, and helping establish the Syrian National Army (SNA).

2016: Turkish Armed Forces Occupy Areas of Northern Syria

Since 2016, during the Syrian civil war, the Turkish Armed Forces and its ally the Syrian National Army have occupied areas of northern Syria.

April 2017: U.S. missile attack on Syrian air base

In April 2017, the U.S. Navy launched a missile attack against a Syrian air base allegedly used to conduct a chemical weapons attack on Syrian civilians.

July 2017: Refugee Crisis

As of July 2017, the Syrian civil war resulted in over 5 million refugees registered by UNHCR.

2017: Formation of the Syrian Salvation Government

In 2017, during the Syrian civil war, the Syrian Salvation Government was formed to control northern areas of the country and operated independently of the Syrian Arab Republic.

2017: Territorial Defeat of Islamic State

In 2017, the Islamic State faced territorial defeat in both central and eastern Syria, following interventions by several countries on behalf of various factions opposing it.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

In 2019, Syria had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 3.64/10, ranking it 144th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Syria's population

In 2019, Syria had a population of approximately 18,500,000, with Syrian Arabs and Palestinians making up roughly 74% of the population.

2019: Airstrike that killed civilians in Syria

In 2019, an airstrike in Syria resulted in the deaths of civilians. In November 2021 the U.S. Central Command acknowledged that it was "legitimate" after a New York Times investigation revealed that the military had concealed the death of dozens of non-combatants.

2019: Agreement Between SDF and Syrian Army

In 2019, the SDF announced an agreement with the Syrian Army, allowing it to enter SDF-held cities like Manbij and Kobani to dissuade a Turkish attack. The Syrian Army also deployed in northern Syria with the SDF along the Syrian-Turkish border.

2020: Refugee and internally displaced populations

By 2020, the UN estimated that over 5.5 million Syrians were living as refugees in the region, and 6.1 million others were internally displaced.

2020: Religious Demographics

In 2020, according to the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), 94.17% of Syrians are Muslims–79.19% are Sunnis and 14.10% are Shias (including Alawites)–and 3.84% of Syrians are Christians.

March 2021: Civilian Casualties in the Syrian Civil War

Between March 2011 and March 2021, over 306,000 civilians were killed in the Syrian civil war.

November 2021: U.S. Central Command acknowledges 2019 airstrike

In November 2021, the U.S. Central Command acknowledged that a 2019 airstrike that killed civilians in Syria was "legitimate" after a New York Times investigation.

2021: Syria as the world's newest narcostate

As of 2021, the export of illegal drugs eclipsed the country's legal exports, leading the New York Times to call Syria "the world's newest narcostate".

2022: Syrian Elections Designated as a "Facade"

Electoral Integrity Project's 2022 Global report designated Syrian elections as a "facade" with the worst electoral integrity in the world alongside Comoros and Central African Republic.

2023: Syria Readmitted into the Arab League

After 11 years of suspension, Syria was readmitted into the Arab League in 2023.

2023: Syrian GDP

As of 2023, Syria's GDP was $6.2 billion, reflecting the economic devastation caused by the ongoing conflict.

2023: Freedom House Ranking

In 2023, Freedom House designated Syria as "Worst of the Worst" among the "Not Free" countries with the lowest score (1/100).

2023: Christian Population Decline

In 2023, the count of Christians affiliated with established denominations in Syria dropped from approximately 2.5 million before the civil war to about 500,000.

December 2024: Appointment of Minister of Women's Affairs

Aisha al-Dibs was appointed as the Minister of Women's Affairs on 22 December 2024.

December 2024: Israel Takes Control of U.N. Buffer Zone

In December 2024, during its invasion of Syria, Israel took control of the U.N.-patrolled buffer zone on Syrian territory, violating the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria.

December 2024: Rebel Factions Take Control of Aleppo

In December 2024, rebel factions, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), took control of Aleppo, prompting a retaliatory airstrike campaign by Syrian regime forces and Russian aviation, resulting in at least 25 deaths.

December 2024: Suspension of Constitution and Parliament

On 12 December 2024, a spokesman of the transitional government said that the constitution and parliament would be suspended during the government's three-month term.

December 2024: Fall of the Ba'athist regime

On 8 December 2024, the Ba'athist regime in Syria fell, marking a significant change in the country's political landscape.

December 2024: HTS Overthrow of Assad

Prior to the fall of the Assad regime, Mohammed al-Bashir headed the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) formed in the province of Idlib by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist militant organization which led the overthrow of Assad in December 2024.

2024: No international rail services

As of 2024 there are no international rail services in Syria, but high-speed rail in Turkey is being extended close to the border.

2024: Impact of Syrian Civil War

By 2024, the Syrian civil war had resulted in more than 600,000 deaths, with pro-Assad forces causing over 90% of civilian casualties, and led to worsened economic conditions with over 90% of the population in poverty.

2024: Fall of Ba'ath Regime

From the 1963 seizure of power by its Military Committee to the fall of the regime in 2024, the Ba'ath party ruled Syria as a dictatorship.

2024: Syrian GDP contraction

In 2024, the World Bank estimated that the Syrian GDP had contracted by 84% from 2010 to 2023.

2024: Capture of Damascus

In late 2024, a series of offensives from a coalition of opposition forces led to the capture of Damascus and the fall of Assad's regime.

January 2025: Appointment of Ahmed al-Sharaa

On 29 January 2025, Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed as president for the transitional period.

January 2025: Appointment of Ahmed al-Sharaa as president

On 29 January 2025, during the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference, the Syrian General Command appointed Ahmed al-Sharaa as president for the transitional period.

February 2025: SDF to Merge with Syrian Armed Forces

In February 2025, the SDF, the Autonomous Administration, and the Syrian Democratic Council decided that SDF would merge with the Syrian Armed Forces.

February 2025: Netanyahu Demands Demilitarization of Southern Syria

On February 23, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded the complete demilitarization of southern Syria and the withdrawal of Syrian forces from the area south of Damascus.

March 2025: Massacre of Alawite Civilians

In March 2025, the UK-based SOHR reported that Syrian security forces and pro-government fighters had committed a massacre of more than 1500 Alawite civilians during clashes in western Syria.

March 2025: Merger of SDF with Syrian Armed Forces and Interim Constitution

On 10 March 2025, the SDF agreed to merge with the Syrian Armed Forces after a meeting between SDF leader Mazloum Abdi and al-Sharaa, who then signed an interim constitution three days later.

March 2025: Ratification of Interim Constitution

On 13 March 2025, al-Sharaa ratified the interim constitution, valid for five years, establishing a presidential system and the People's Assembly as an interim parliament.