To start out, this is a brief timeline of the events thus far (adapted from theweek.com and nytimes.com):
February 22, 2011
Inspired by the Arab Spring uprising elsewhere, 15 teenagers write anti-regime graffiti on various walls and are arrested.
Inspired by the Arab Spring uprising elsewhere, 15 teenagers write anti-regime graffiti on various walls and are arrested.
March 25, 2011
Syrian troops fire into a reportedly peaceful demonstration over the teens' arrests, killing several.
Syrian troops fire into a reportedly peaceful demonstration over the teens' arrests, killing several.
May 18, 2011The United States imposes sanctions on Syria in response to a month of violent crackdowns by the regime, which had killed at least 700 people to that point.
August 18, 2011
The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany join the United States in calling for Assad to resign.
The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany join the United States in calling for Assad to resign.
November 12, 2011
The Arab League, which includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and 20 other countries, votes to suspend Syria's membership and threatens to impose economic and political sanctions if it doesn't stop the crackdown against protesters.
The Arab League, which includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and 20 other countries, votes to suspend Syria's membership and threatens to impose economic and political sanctions if it doesn't stop the crackdown against protesters.
February 4, 2012
300 people are killed in Homs by a barrage of artillery fire from Syrian government forces, prompting international condemnation. Shortly thereafter, China and Russia veto a resolution by the U.N. Security Council backing an Arab League peace plan for Syria.
300 people are killed in Homs by a barrage of artillery fire from Syrian government forces, prompting international condemnation. Shortly thereafter, China and Russia veto a resolution by the U.N. Security Council backing an Arab League peace plan for Syria.
August 21, 2012
President Barack Obama lays down a red line on the use of chemical weapons Opposition activists put the death toll in the conflict at 20,000.
President Barack Obama lays down a red line on the use of chemical weapons Opposition activists put the death toll in the conflict at 20,000.
March 19, 2013
A small-scale chemicals weapons attack kills 25 people in the Khan al-Assal region north of Aleppo.
A small-scale chemicals weapons attack kills 25 people in the Khan al-Assal region north of Aleppo.
April 25, 2013
The White House says, with "varying degrees of confidence," that it believes the Assad regime "used chemical weapons on a small scale" on March 19.
The White House says, with "varying degrees of confidence," that it believes the Assad regime "used chemical weapons on a small scale" on March 19.
June 13, 2013
The Obama administration announces it will send small arms and ammunition to Syrian rebels. The decision is later debated by Congress over fears that the United States could be arming al Qaeda-linked opposition groups like the Al-Nusra Front.
The Obama administration announces it will send small arms and ammunition to Syrian rebels. The decision is later debated by Congress over fears that the United States could be arming al Qaeda-linked opposition groups like the Al-Nusra Front.
July 25, 2013
The United Nations announces that 100,000 people have been killed and 1.7 million people have been forced to become refugees as a result of the violence.
The United Nations announces that 100,000 people have been killed and 1.7 million people have been forced to become refugees as a result of the violence.
August 21, 2013
Opposition forces claim that hundreds of people are killed in a chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, putting pressure on Obama to act on his "red line" comment. The Syrian government denies using chemical weapons.
Opposition forces claim that hundreds of people are killed in a chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, putting pressure on Obama to act on his "red line" comment. The Syrian government denies using chemical weapons.
August 26, 2013
Secretary of State John Kerry says there is enough evidence to "strongly indicate" that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons in Ghouta, calling the attack a "moral obscenity."
Secretary of State John Kerry says there is enough evidence to "strongly indicate" that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons in Ghouta, calling the attack a "moral obscenity."
Sep 14, 2013
The U.S. and Russia agree on a plan to destroy Syria's chemical weapons, partially in response to the Ghouta attack.
October 3, 2013
U.N. inspectors begin visiting Syrian chemical weapons sites in preparation for the actual destruction of the chemical arms
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