It has been 10 years since the start of the war in Syria, but the conflict grinds on with little sign of ending.
Even if the regime of Bashar Al Assad, who has often portrayed himself as a bastion of resistance against the imperialist West, manages to retake Idlib province – the last stronghold of Syria's rebels – the country is now in ruins and bogged down in economic misery.
More than 300,000 people have died and 11 million have been displaced. Many other casualties remain undocumented.
The war's intensity has been driven by the growing realisation among the opposing sides that defeat means near-certain death.
Foreign powers spent the conflict's first few years lavishing money, weapons and mercenaries on their chosen side.
Mr Al Assad has succeeded in recapturing most of the major cities and provinces he lost during the war.
But he presides over a damaged, depopulated country that will be suffering for many years to come. Reconstruction will cost hundreds of billions of dollars.
To many observers, the war may seem like a long blur of violence and suffering but some pivotal events stand out:
2011: peaceful protests met with regime gunfire
In early 2011, Syrians scrawled "Your turn, doctor!” on walls in the southern city of Deraa. A reference to Mr Al Assad, who is a qualified ophthalmologist, the slogan was inspired by anti-regime uprisings in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Syria's regime detained the children responsible and tortured them. Anti-regime protests spread across the country with demonstrators demanding that Mr Al Assad step down. The regime responded with mass arrests, kidnappings and increasingly, gunfire.
2012: opposition takes up arms
Although the first clashes between government forces and opposition groups began as early as the summer of 2011, sustained violence resembling a civil war did not start until 2012 when cities such as Hama came under sustained artillery bombardment. The Free Syrian Army, formed by regime defectors, soon found itself among a collection of different allied factions, many of them with extremist sympathies. Backed by regional powers, these groups started seizing vital cities that were left largely undefended by government forces.
By mid-2012, the regime’s aircraft started dropping barrels laden with explosives on its own people in rebel-held areas, supplementing this devastating bombardment with heavy artillery attacks.
2013: Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah defend Assad
As regime forces came under increasing pressure – a number of army bases fell to the rebels in the rural north in late 2012 and early 2013, Lebanon’s Hezbollah openly sent its fighters to support Mr Al Assad.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also sent advisers and – reportedly – weaponry to support its beleaguered ally.
But it wasn't just the rural north and east where the rebels were gaining ground. Fighting soon raged in the suburbs of Damascus, where the regime was just as violent in its methods as it was in cities such as Hama, Homs and Aleppo.
UN inspectors confirmed that the nerve agent sarin was used in an attack on the Ghouta agricultural belt around Damascus in August 2013.
Former US president Barack Obama put military action against the Assad regime on hold and vowed to pursue diplomacy to remove the government's chemical weapons.
2014: the rise of ISIS
In June 2014, ISIS announced it controlled a vast area of Syrian territory, with Raqqa as its capital.
The US and its allies in the West and the wider region shifted focus from removing Mr Al Assad to fighting the extremists of ISIS, although the Al Qaeda-linked Jabhat Al Nusra came to dominate Idlib province.
By 2014, ISIS had seized territory in Syria and Iraq and proclaimed a so-called caliphate.
It survived on oil sales, kidnappings, robbery and extortion, as well as illicit financial transfers from wealthy foreign donors. Slowly, international efforts worked to close down these channels of funding.
2015: Russia changes the conflict
In September 2015, Russia sent weapons, military advisers and mercenaries to prop up Mr Al Assad's Iran-backed government forces. The Russian intervention, bringing heavy firepower to back up the regime's crumbling air force, was a game changer. But it led to another huge wave of refugees.
Russia’s infamous air strikes bombed entire cities flat, often using the double-tap technique, where the first air strike hits and a second one follows within minutes to kill whomever comes to the rescue.
In 2015, an image of a Syrian Kurdish boy called Alan Kurdi lying face down on a Turkish beach after a boat capsized in the Mediterranean highlighted the Syrian refugee crisis. Millions took the deadly sea route between Turkey and Greece in a desperate attempt to reach Europe. The war forced half of Syria’s prewar population of nearly 22 million to flee their homes within the country or go further afield, with millions pouring into Europe, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.
2016: chlorine gas
Syrian rebels and activists accused the regime of using chlorine in gas attacks on Aleppo after graphic footage emerged on social media of people with severe breathing difficulties.
The UN said a chlorine attack would amount to a war crime.
2017: US military strikes after chemical weapons used again
Chemical weapons were used in the strategic northern city of Khan Sheikhoun in April 2017, which UN experts blamed on the Syrian government.
Up to 100 civilians were thought to have died and the attack prompted military strikes by the Donald Trump administration.
But for the rebellion, which by now was riven with extremist infighting and pounded by Russian air strikes, there was little hope left. This did not stop increasing involvement from Turkey, Russia and Iran.
The conflict continued to spiral out of control, with Russian and Turkish forces clashing, Israeli air strikes hitting Syrian forces and even clashes between Shiite militias and US forces. In May 2017 for example, Turkey threatened to bomb US forces who were embedded with allied Syrian Kurdish fighters in the campaign against ISIS.
Fearing uncontrollable conflict, Russia and Turkey reached a de-escalation agreement in flashpoints, including the strategically important Idlib province which is on the border with Turkey.
2018: regime controls most of the country
Russian air power helped the regime regain control over most of the country. By mid-2018, the regime retook major cities and areas, chiefly Aleppo and large patches of the countryside and suburbs of Damascus, and then Deraa, known as the cradle of the Syrian revolution.
Russia and Turkey reached an agreement in September 2018 to avert a full-scale regime operation to recapture Idlib. The Sochi accord called for a 25-kilometre demilitarised buffer zone. The rebel factions were required to pull their heavy weapons out of the zone, and extremists in the province, like Al Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir Al Sham were told to withdraw altogether from the zone.
2019: the defeat of ISIS
The Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces declared the self-proclaimed ISIS "caliphate" defeated after the militants' capitulation in their last stronghold, the eastern village of Baghouz. The US, however, still believes that the extremist group has many sleeper cells in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East.
Throughout the years of the conflict, there were several peace initiatives, backed at various points by the UN, the US and Russia in cities like Geneva and Astana, the Kazakh capital, and Sochi in Russia. But all these peace efforts have failed to stop the killings, torture, bombings and displacement.
Syrian opposition forces withdrew from the strategic town of Khan Sheikhoun, deep in Idlib. The city lies along the M5 road, which is the main motorway through Syria from north to south, linking Damascus, Homs and Aleppo.
2020: the battle for Idlib continues
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, government air strikes and ground operations continued in 2020, driving almost a million civilians from their homes in Idlib province since December.
The UN says this is the biggest single displacement of Syria’s 10-year war and has warned that a full-scale battle – promised by the regime to recapture Idlib – could result in a new bloodbath.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
NBA FINALS SO FAR
(Toronto lead 3-2 in best-of-seven series)
Game 1 Raptors 118 Warriors 109
Game 2 Raptors 104 Warriors 109
Game 3 Warriors 109 Raptors 123
Game 4 Warriors 92 Raptors 105
Game 5 Raptors 105 Warriors 106
Game 6 Thursday, at Oakland
Game 7 Sunday, at Toronto (if needed)
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MATCH INFO
What: India v Afghanistan, first Test
When: Starts Thursday
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalaru
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Avatar%20(2009)
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 2
Watford 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Southampton 0
Crystal Palace 0 Swansea City 2
Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Stoke City 1
Chelsea 2 Everton 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 1
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0
Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Valladolid v Osasuna (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Valencia v Athletic Bilbao (5pm), Getafe v Sevilla (7.15pm), Huesca v Alaves (9.30pm), Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Real Sociedad v Eibar (5pm), Real Betis v Villarreal (7.15pm), Elche v Granada (9.30pm), Barcelona v Levante (midnight)
Monday Celta Vigo v Cadiz (midnight)
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE%20SQUAD
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Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
MATCH INFO
Newcastle 2-2 Manchester City
Burnley 0-2 Crystal Palace
Chelsea 0-1 West Ham
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Tottenham 3-2 Bournemouth
Southampton v Watford (late)
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at Mount Maunganui
England 353
Stokes 91, Denly 74, Southee 4-88
New Zealand 144-4
Williamson 51, S Curran 2-28
Results
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
Under-21 European Championship Final
Germany 1 Spain 0
Weiser (40')
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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UAE SQUAD
Khalid Essa, Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammad Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoon Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.