Syrian civil war

March 15, 2011 – December 8, 2024 · Damascus

Result Syrian opposition and allied victory

War that began when the Assad government crushed Arab Spring protests. Rebels, jihadist groups including the Islamic State, and Kurdish forces fought the government, with Russia and Iran backing Assad and others backing his opponents; about half a million people died and millions fled. Rebels took Damascus in December 2024 and Assad fled.

On the map Overview Contemporaries

Syrian government

Islamic State

Syrian opposition

Syrian Democratic Forces

Turkey and Syrian National Army

Other

Syria

Russia

Iran

Hezbollah

Islamic State

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

Syrian opposition

Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria

United States

Turkey

Bashar al-Assad President of Syria, Led the government side; fled in 2024

Strength and losses

Killed: c. 120,020

Units

Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces Quds Force Self-Defense Forces (NES regions) Syrian Army 1st Corps (Syria) 15th Special Forces Division 2nd Corps (Syria) 10th Mechanized Division Also under 1st Corps (Syria) 14th Special Forces Division 1st Armoured Division (Syria) 3rd Corps (Syria) 5th Assault Corps (Syria) 11th Armored Division (Syria) 17th Division (Syria) 18th Armoured Division (Syria) 2nd Armored Division (Syria) 4th Armoured Division (Syria) 5th Mechanized Division 6th Armored Division (Syria) 8th Armoured Division (Syria) Syrian Marines Syrian Republican Guard Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Ground Forces 17th Ali ibn Abi Taleb Division 120th Guards Naval Infantry Division 72nd Division (Syria) Saberin Takavar Brigade 18th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

Delta Force 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit 24th Special Tactics Squadron

Iraqi Army 2nd Division (Iraq) 8th Division (Iraq) Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service National Defence Forces Radwan Force Special Operations Forces (Ukraine) Syrian Air Defence Force Syrian Special Mission Forces 25th Special Mission Forces Division 30th Division (Syria) 3rd Armoured Division (Syria) Also under 3rd Corps (Syria) 7th Mechanized Division (Syria) 9th Armoured Division (Syria) 141st Special Motorized Regiment Iraqi Air Force Kuwait Air Force Syrian Air Force

Battles and events 130

Key events

Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war 2011 · Turkish-Syrian opposition victory
- Suruç bombing July 20, 2015
- Operation Olive Branch January 20, 2018 – August 9, 2019 · Turkish-SNA victory
- 2019 Turkish offensive into northeastern Syria October 9, 2019 · Turkish and SNA victory
Syrian revolution March 15, 2011 – June 12, 2012
- Siege of Daraa April 25 – May 5, 2011 · Syrian government victory
- June 2011 Jisr ash-Shughur clashes June 4–12, 2011 · Syrian government victory
- Battle of Rastan (May 2012) 2012 · Syrian opposition victory
Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016) July 19, 2012 – December 22, 2016 · Syrian Arab Army and allied victory
- Aleppo offensive (October–December 2013) October 3 – December 1, 2013 · Syrian government victory
- Aleppo offensive (October–December 2015) October 16 – December 21, 2015
- Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016) February 1–16, 2016 · SDF, Syrian army and allies victory
- 2016 Aleppo summer campaign June 25 – September 11, 2016
- Aleppo offensive (September–October 2016) September 22 – October 16, 2016 · Syrian Army and allies advances; Rebel counter-offensive
- Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016) November 15 – December 22, 2016 · Syrian government and allied victory
War against the Islamic State June 13, 2014
- Iranian intervention in Iraq (2014–present) June 13, 2014
- Operation Inherent Resolve June 15, 2014 – April 16, 2026 · US-allied victory
  - Iraqi conflict March 20, 2003 – December 9, 2017
- US-led intervention in Iraq (2014–2021) June 15, 2014
  - Shirqat offensive (2016) March 24, 2016 · Iraqi victory
  - Assassination of Qasem Soleimani January 3, 2020
- Northern Iraq offensive (August 2014) August 1–19, 2014
  - Battle of Zumar August 1–4, 2014 · Peshmerga victory
- Operation Impact September 4, 2014
- Opération Chammal September 19, 2014
- United States intervention in Syria September 22, 2014
  - September 2016 Deir ez-Zor airstrike September 17, 2016
  - Raqqa campaign (2016–2017) November 6, 2016 · Decisive SDF / CJTF-OIR victory
  - 2017 al-Jinah airstrike March 16, 2017
  - 2017 Shayrat missile strike April 7, 2017
  - April 2018 missile strikes against Syria April 14, 2018
- Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war September 30, 2015 – December 8, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
  - Palmyra offensive (March 2016) March 9–27, 2016 · Syrian government victory
  - Eastern Syria campaign September 14, 2017 · * ISIL militants maintain presence in the desert
  - Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018) February 18 – April 14, 2018 · Syrian Army-allied victory
- Puntland counter-terrorism operations November 26, 2024
Siege of Kobanî September 13, 2014 – January 26, 2015 · Rojava Federation victory
Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war September 30, 2015 – December 8, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
- Palmyra offensive (March 2016) March 9–27, 2016 · Syrian government victory
- Eastern Syria campaign September 14, 2017 · * ISIL militants maintain presence in the desert
- Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018) February 18 – April 14, 2018 · Syrian Army-allied victory
  - Douma chemical attack April 7, 2018
2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown November 24, 2015
Operation Euphrates Shield August 24, 2016 – March 29, 2017 · Turkish and TFSA victory
- 2017 Russian Air Force Al-Bab incident February 9, 2017
Battle of Khasham February 7–8, 2018 · American and Syrian Democratic Forces victory
2024 Syrian opposition offensives November 27 – December 8, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
- Battle of Aleppo (2024) November 29 – December 2, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
- 2024 Hama offensive November 30 – December 5, 2024
- Operation Dawn of Freedom November 30 – December 12, 2024 · Temporary US-mediated truce between SDF and SNA
  - 2024 Homs offensive December 2024 – December 8, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
- Fall of Damascus (2024) December 2024 – December 8, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
- Palmyra offensive (2024) December 6–7, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
Fall of the Assad regime November 27 – December 8, 2024
Israeli invasion of Syria (2024–present) December 8, 2024
- Southern Syria clashes (July–September 2025) July 13–20, 2025

2011 9 events

Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war 2011 · Turkish-Syrian opposition victory
- Suruç bombing July 20, 2015
- Operation Olive Branch January 20, 2018 – August 9, 2019 · Turkish-SNA victory
- 2019 Turkish offensive into northeastern Syria October 9, 2019 · Turkish and SNA victory
Syrian revolution March 15, 2011 – June 12, 2012
- Siege of Daraa April 25 – May 5, 2011 · Syrian government victory
- June 2011 Jisr ash-Shughur clashes June 4–12, 2011 · Syrian government victory
- Battle of Rastan (May 2012) 2012 · Syrian opposition victory
Siege of Homs May 6, 2011 – May 21, 2017 · Syrian government victory
Siege of Talkalakh (May 2011) May 14–19, 2011
Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh May 28 – June 4, 2011
Early insurgency phase of the Syrian civil war July 29, 2011 – April 20, 2012
Rif Dimashq clashes (November 2011–March 2012) November 3, 2011 · Damascus centre under Government control
Daraa Governorate campaign November 14, 2011 – July 31, 2018
Deir ez-Zor clashes (2011–2014) November 26, 2011 – April 10, 2014

2012 15 events

Battle of Zabadani (2012) January 18, 2012
Battle of Douma January 30, 2012 · Syrian Army victory
Battle of Azaz (2012) March 6 – July 23, 2012 · Syrian opposition victory
Battle of Idlib (2012) March 10–13, 2012 · Syrian government victory
Battle of Taftanaz April 3–5, 2012 · Syrian Army victory
Houla massacre May 25, 2012
Battle of Tremseh July 12, 2012 · Syrian government victory
Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016) July 19, 2012 – December 22, 2016 · Syrian Arab Army and allied victory
- Aleppo offensive (October–December 2013) October 3 – December 1, 2013 · Syrian government victory
- Aleppo offensive (October–December 2015) October 16 – December 21, 2015
- Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016) February 1–16, 2016 · SDF, Syrian army and allies victory
- 2016 Aleppo summer campaign June 25 – September 11, 2016
- Aleppo offensive (September–October 2016) September 22 – October 16, 2016 · Syrian Army and allies advances; Rebel counter-offensive
- Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016) November 15 – December 22, 2016 · Syrian government and allied victory
Rojava Revolution July 19, 2012
- Battle of Qamishli (2016) April 22, 2016 · Ceasefire
Siege of Nubl and al-Zahraa July 19, 2012 – February 3, 2016 · Syrian government victory
Siege of Menagh Air Base August 2, 2012 – August 6, 2013 · Rebel victory
Siege of Base 46 September 22 – November 19, 2012 · Rebel victory * FSA capture Base 46 in mid-November 2012 following a two-month siege
Battle of Ras al-Ayn (2012–2013) November 2012 – December 17, 2012 · YPG-led victory
Quneitra Governorate clashes (2012–2014) November 2, 2012 – 2015
- Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian civil war November 11, 2012 · Israel invades Syria after the fall of Assad
  - February 2018 Israel–Syria incident February 10, 2018
2012 Hama offensive December 16–31, 2012

2013 11 events

Battle of Shaddadi (2013) February 12–14, 2013 · Al-Nusra Front victory
Battle of Raqqa (2013) March 2–6, 2013 · Rebel victory
Al-Qusayr offensive April 4 – June 8, 2013 · Decisive Syrian Army & Hezbollah victory
Siege of Eastern Ghouta April 7, 2013 · Syrian Army and allies victory
- Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018) February 18 – April 14, 2018 · Syrian Army-allied victory
  - Douma chemical attack April 7, 2018
Battle of Jdaidet al-Fadl April 16–21, 2013 · Syrian government victory
Second Battle of al-Qusayr May 19, 2013 · Decisive Syrian Army & Hezbollah victory
2013 Latakia offensive August 4–19, 2013
Ghouta chemical attack August 21, 2013
Battle of Maaloula September 4–15, 2013 · Syrian government victory
Battle of Sadad October 21–28, 2013 · Syrian government victory
Battle of Qalamoun (2013–2014) December 15, 2013 · Syrian government victory

2014 13 events

Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war January 2, 2014 · Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham victory
Al-Otaiba ambush February 26, 2014 · Hezbollah victory
2014 Idlib offensive March 5 – May 25, 2014
Battle of Hosn March 20, 2014 · Syrian government victory
2014 Latakia offensive March 21 – June 15, 2014 · Syrian government victory
Deir ez-Zor offensive (April–July 2014) April 10 – July 14, 2014 · Decisive ISIS victory
War against the Islamic State June 13, 2014
- Iranian intervention in Iraq (2014–present) June 13, 2014
- Operation Inherent Resolve June 15, 2014 – April 16, 2026 · US-allied victory
  - Iraqi conflict March 20, 2003 – December 9, 2017
- US-led intervention in Iraq (2014–2021) June 15, 2014
  - Shirqat offensive (2016) March 24, 2016 · Iraqi victory
  - Assassination of Qasem Soleimani January 3, 2020
- Northern Iraq offensive (August 2014) August 1–19, 2014
  - Battle of Zumar August 1–4, 2014 · Peshmerga victory
- Operation Impact September 4, 2014
- Opération Chammal September 19, 2014
- United States intervention in Syria September 22, 2014
  - September 2016 Deir ez-Zor airstrike September 17, 2016
  - Raqqa campaign (2016–2017) November 6, 2016 · Decisive SDF / CJTF-OIR victory
  - 2017 al-Jinah airstrike March 16, 2017
  - 2017 Shayrat missile strike April 7, 2017
  - April 2018 missile strikes against Syria April 14, 2018
- Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war September 30, 2015 – December 8, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
  - Palmyra offensive (March 2016) March 9–27, 2016 · Syrian government victory
  - Eastern Syria campaign September 14, 2017 · * ISIL militants maintain presence in the desert
  - Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018) February 18 – April 14, 2018 · Syrian Army-allied victory
- Puntland counter-terrorism operations November 26, 2024
Siege of Deir ez-Zor (2014–2017) July 14, 2014 – September 10, 2017 · Syrian government victory
First Battle of Sha'ir July 17–26, 2014 · Syrian government forces recapture the gas field
2014 Eastern Syria offensive August 28, 2014 · Decisive ISIL victory; Major SAA retreat
Siege of Kobanî September 13, 2014 – January 26, 2015 · Rojava Federation victory
Opération Chammal September 19, 2014
2014 Hama offensive September 19, 2014

2015 28 events

2015–2016 Latakia offensive 2015
Daraa offensive (January 2015) January 24–31, 2015
Eastern Hasakah offensive February 21 – March 17, 2015 · YPG & Syrian Army victory
Battle of Sarrin (March–April 2015) March 17 – April 27, 2015
Battle of Bosra (2015) March 21–25, 2015 · Rebel victory
Battle of Idlib (2015) March 24–28, 2015 · Rebel victory
Siege of al-Fu'ah and Kafriya March 28, 2015 – July 19, 2018 · Rebel victory
Battle of Yarmouk Camp (2015) April 1–20, 2015
Northwestern Syria offensive (April–June 2015) April 22 – June 14, 2015 · Army of Conquest victory
Tell Abyad offensive May 2015 – July 2015 · Major YPG-led victory
Western Hasakah offensive May 2015
Hasakah city offensive May 2015 – June 2015 · Syrian Army/YPG victory
Palmyra offensive (May 2015) May 13–25, 2015 · Major ISIL victory
Battle of Sarrin (June–July 2015) June 18 – July 27, 2015 · YPG-led victory
Battle of Hasakah (2015) June 23 – August 1, 2015 · Decisive Syrian Army & YPG/J victory
Daraa offensive (June–July 2015) July 10, 2015 · Syrian Army victory
Palmyra offensive (July–August 2015) August 4, 2015 · Indecisive * The Syrian Army comes within 3–5 kilometers of Palmyra city
Battle of al-Qaryatayn (2015) August 5, 2015 · Islamic State victory
Siege of Abu al-Duhur Airbase August 28 – September 9, 2015 · Rebel victory
Russian–Syrian hospital bombing campaign September 2015 · * Campaign ended with the fall of the Assad regime
Battle of Zabadani (2015) September 24, 2015
Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war September 30, 2015 – December 8, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
- Palmyra offensive (March 2016) March 9–27, 2016 · Syrian government victory
- Eastern Syria campaign September 14, 2017 · * ISIL militants maintain presence in the desert
- Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018) February 18 – April 14, 2018 · Syrian Army-allied victory
  - Douma chemical attack April 7, 2018
2015 al-Hawl offensive October 31 – November 30, 2015 · SDF victory
Northwestern Syria offensive (October–November 2015) November 10, 2015 · Inconclusive
East Aleppo offensive (2015–2016) November 18, 2015 – February 21, 2016
2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown November 24, 2015
Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin (2015–2016) December 27, 2015 · Syrian Army victory
Tishrin Dam offensive December 30, 2015 · Major SDF victory

2016 19 events

Deir ez-Zor offensive (2016) January 21, 2016 · ISIL victory
Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (February–March 2016) February 11 – March 5, 2016 · Offensive stalls; limited Syrian Army advances
Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016) February 17–22, 2016
2016 Khanasir offensive February 29, 2016
Battle of Tell Abyad (2016) March 1, 2016 · SDF victory
Battle of al-Qaryatayn (2016) March 3 – April 3, 2016 · Decisive Syrian Army victory
Palmyra offensive (March 2016) March 9–27, 2016 · Syrian government victory
Battle of Maarat al-Numan (2016) March 13, 2016
Manbij offensive (2016) March 30 – August 27, 2016 · Major SDF victory
2016 Abu Kamal offensive June 29, 2016 · ISIL victory
2016 Latakia offensive August 12, 2016
Battle of al-Rai (August 2016) August 20, 2016
Battle of Hasakah (2016) August 23, 2016
Operation Euphrates Shield August 24, 2016 – March 29, 2017 · Turkish and TFSA victory
- 2017 Russian Air Force Al-Bab incident February 9, 2017
2016 Hama offensive August 29 – November 6, 2016
2016 Dabiq offensive September 28 – October 16, 2016
Battle of al-Bab November 6, 2016 – February 23, 2017 · Turkish and SNA victory
Raqqa campaign (2016–2017) November 6, 2016 · Decisive SDF / CJTF-OIR victory
- Battle of Tabqa March 22 – May 10, 2017 · Major SDF victory
- Battle of Raqqa (2017) June 6 – October 17, 2017 · SDF and allies victory
Palmyra offensive (December 2016) December 8–22, 2016 · Partial ISIL victory

2017 20 events

Palmyra offensive (2017) January 2017 – March 2, 2017 · Syrian government victory
Deir ez-Zor offensive (January–February 2017) January 2017 – February 2017
Idlib Governorate clashes (January–March 2017) January 20 – March 9, 2017
Southwestern Daraa offensive (February 2017) February 27, 2017
East Aleppo offensive (2017) April 5, 2017
2017 Shayrat missile strike April 7, 2017
2017 Aleppo suicide car bombing April 15, 2017
Hama offensive (March–April 2017) April 28, 2017
Syrian Desert campaign (May–July 2017) May 7 – July 13, 2017
Qaboun offensive (2017) May 29, 2017
Daraa offensive (June 2017) June 7–23, 2017 · Indecisive * Syrian Army captures at least 50% of the Daraa Refugee Camp
Maskanah Plains offensive June 8, 2017
2017 Southern Raqqa offensive June 13–30, 2017
2017 Jobar offensive June 20 – August 14, 2017 · Offensive stalled * Syrian Army advance on Jobar repelled by rebels.
Central Syria campaign July 14 – October 21, 2017
Deir ez-Zor campaign (2017–2019) September 8, 2017 – March 23, 2019
- Battle of Baghuz Fawqani February 9 – March 23, 2019 · SDF victory
Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017 – February 2018) October 9, 2017 · Syrian government victory
Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate October 12, 2017 · Turkish–Syrian opposition victory
Beit Jinn offensive November 28, 2017 – January 2, 2018 · Syrian government victory
Battle of Harasta (2017–2018) December 29, 2017

2018 4 events

Battle of Khasham February 7–8, 2018 · American and Syrian Democratic Forces victory
Deir ez-Zor offensive (2018) June 11, 2018 · Syrian government and allies victory
Syria missile strikes (September 2018) September 17, 2018
Suwayda offensive (August–November 2018) November 19, 2018

2019 3 events

December 2019 United States airstrikes in Iraq and Syria 2019
Northwestern Syria offensive (April–August 2019) April 2019 – August 2019 · Syrian Arab Army and allies victory
Northwestern Syria offensive (2019–2020) December 19, 2019 – March 6, 2020 · Syrian government victory
- 2020 Balyun airstrikes February 27, 2020

2020 1 event

Operation Spring Shield February 27 – March 6, 2020 · Ceasefire

2022 1 event

Battle of Hasakah (2022) January 20–30, 2022 · SDF tactical victory, minor ISIL strategic victory

2023 1 event

2023 Homs drone strike October 5, 2023

2024 5 events

Fall of the Assad regime November 27 – December 8, 2024
2024 Syrian opposition offensives November 27 – December 8, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
- Battle of Aleppo (2024) November 29 – December 2, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
- 2024 Hama offensive November 30 – December 5, 2024
- Operation Dawn of Freedom November 30 – December 12, 2024 · Temporary US-mediated truce between SDF and SNA
  - 2024 Homs offensive December 2024 – December 8, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
- Fall of Damascus (2024) December 2024 – December 8, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
- Palmyra offensive (2024) December 6–7, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
Southern Syria offensive (2024) November 29 – December 7, 2024 · Syrian opposition victory
Israeli invasion of Syria (2024–present) December 8, 2024
- Southern Syria clashes (July–September 2025) July 13–20, 2025
Hezbollah–Syria clashes (2024–present) December 8, 2024