Syrian citizens held up national flags as they protested against President Bashar al-Assad in the city of Kanfranbel.
In the Middle Eastern country of Syria, anger at the government has turned into fierce fighting. For many months, government and rebel forces have been clashing. Many people worry that the fighting will turn into a civil war.
The conflict in Syria started in March 2011 in the city of Deraa. Fifteen schoolchildren were arrested for writing messages that criticized the government on walls throughout the city. People in the community protested the children’s arrest. They also called for democracy and more freedom for the people of Syria. News reporters began calling this and other protests in Middle Eastern countries the “Arab Spring.”
The protest in Deraa was peaceful, but the government responded violently. Security forces fired guns at the protesters and killed four people. Syrians were angry and outraged over the government’s actions. Unrest spread to other parts of the country.
Soon, protesters were calling for Bashar al-Assad, the president of Syria, to resign. However, President Assad refused, and many Syrians still support him and his government. Assad has offered to make some changes to the government, but the protesters don’t believe that he will do it.
Other countries are trying to bring peace to Syria. In January 2012, the Arab League, which is made up of representatives from different Arab countries, presented the United Nations (UN) with its peace plan for Syria. The plan asked President Assad to give up power and for the country to hold new elections and form a new government. However, the plan did not have enough support in the UN.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues. The UN estimates that more than 5,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict. The Syrian government says that about 2,000 members of its security forces have died. The UN also estimates that 14,000 Syrians have been arrested. International aid organizations are working to help the people caught in the fighting. However, the lack of UN support is making it difficult to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria.
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