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High Stakes for Syria at GCC Meeting How President Obama Should Urge Gulf Leaders to Help Syria When President Obama meets the leaders of the Syrian human rights activists and other civil society Gulf Cooperation Council on April 21 in Saudi Arabia figures continue to voice extreme exasperation with it will be his last chance to press the Gulf monarchs the Obama Administration’s actions towards Syria in person, on their home ground, about their human since peaceful anti-regime protests broke out five rights responsibilities. In a letter to Obama Human years ago. Rights First outlined a series of concerns about U.S. involvement in the conflict in Syria has been government attacks on civil society in the GCC characterized by several pivotal moments. The U.S. states. government adopted a wait-and-see approach for far The issue of the Syrian conflict will be prominent on too long, apparently relying on the superficially the agenda of the summit and Obama can usefully reassuring, but ultimately false, assumption that the urge his Gulf allies to help end the conflict and conflict was being fought out between al-Qa’eda and promote a lasting peace. Hezbollah, two forces antagonistic the United States, so having U.S. enemies fight each other Over the last month Human Rights First has held a would not harm U.S. interests. At other times, the series of discussions with Syrian civil society leaders administration appeared to stake out strong now based in other countries, including many in positions only to waffle or walk them back, as Gaziantep on the Turkish side of the Syrian border, demonstrated in the timeline accompanying this about what they now want to see the U.S. report. government do to help resolve the Syrian war, and specifically how President Obama should use the During the first year of the conflict U.S. engagement GCC summit to press the Gulf states to reduce and in Syria was limited to rhetoric and diplomacy. In end the conflict. May 2011, two months after the mass protests began, the United States imposed sanctions on While the current ceasefire, which began on President Bashar Al Assad and senior government February 27, has reduced the rate of civilian deaths, officials, but it was not until August of that year that it looks increasingly fragile. Neither ISIS nor Jabhat President Obama officially called for Assad’s Al Nusrah, both powerful armed extremist groups, removal. Towards the end of 2011, the United are included in the truce, and fighting continues on a Nations Security Council, with U.S. support, took up number of fronts by other factions which agreed to consideration of resolutions condemning Assad’s halt fighting. In what amounted to a re-declaration of brutality and calling for a political transition. Russia war, Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halaki warned on and China repeatedly vetoed these resolutions, April 10 that regime forces “are preparing for an which stymied efforts for the Security Council to fulfill operation to liberate Aleppo and to block all illegal its intended role in maintaining international peace armed groups which have not joined or have broken and security with regard to this conflict. the ceasefire deal.”

Human Rights First BRIEF

Against the backdrop of the pro-democracy the administration to act and in September, uprisings and government crackdowns in other President Obama announced the formation of a countries in the Middle East and North Africa in broad international coalition to degrade and 2011, and with the American public’s limited appetite ultimately destroy ISIS. In September the U.S.-led for troops on the ground after the negative coalition began its first airstrikes on military targets in experiences of Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. Syria. While the strikes targeted ISIS’s war-fighting government avoided a military approach in Syria. and war-sustaining capabilities, they did not directly This reticence ultimately resulted in a failure to target Assad’s forces despite calls by U.S. allies in support the moderate rebels who aimed to oust the region and some of the opposition armed groups Assad, as the situation became increasingly and some of civil society for the U.S. to do so. complex. In August 2012, President Obama gave his Throughout 2015 the United States continued its now-infamous “red line” speech regarding the use of airstrike campaign in Syria while also launching a chemical weapons in Syria, stating, “We have been program to train and equip Syrian opposition rebels. very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other Meanwhile, Russia became increasingly involved in players on the ground, that a red line for us is we the conflict and began to launch airstrikes in start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons September, which overwhelmingly targeted anti- moving around or being utilized. That would change Assad, non-ISIS rebels. By the fall it was clear that my calculus.” One month later, the United States the U.S. $500 million “train and equip” program had began supplying Syrian opposition rebels with non- failed, producing only a handful of active fighters. In lethal aid. October, the United States scrapped the program In June 2013, a U.S. intelligence report concluded and announced a new plan to send U.S. special the Assad regime had used chemical weapons, operations forces into Syria to serve in an advisory including sarin, on a small scale against the capacity to opposition fighters. A debate ensued opposition multiple times in the previous year. Then over the extent to which these forces constituted on August 21 a chemical weapons attack on a “boots on the ground.” Damascus suburb killed an estimated 1,400 people. In late 2015, the United States, Russia, Turkey, and Having drawn a line, which if crossed would be Saudi Arabia initiated peace talks on Syria in cause for U.S. military action, President Obama Vienna, but no agreement was reached. President worked with President Putin of Russia, strong Obama reiterated in November that he did not supporter of the Assad regime, to produce an foresee “a situation in which we can end the civil war agreement calling for the elimination in Syria while Assad remains in power.” While his of Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles by mid-2014. remarks echoed earlier statements by U.S. officials since 2011, views on Assad’s departure While the United States avoided taking direct military fundamentally diverged among the other action in Syria in 2013, the situation changed in governments involved in the conflict and convening 2014 as a result of the growth of ISIS. In June 2014, the peace talks. As the peace negotiations ISIS seized the city of Mosul in Iraq and officially progressed, the U.S. position on Assad seemed to declared their “caliphate,” effectively erasing the soften, leading the State Department to confront border between western Iraq and eastern Syria. In persistent questions from the media about whether it August, journalist James Foley was the first was backing off from its stance that Assad could not American executed by the group in Syria. ISIS’s remain in power, or whether a transitional role for gruesome execution videos shocked the him was envisaged. international community and increased pressure on

Human Rights First BRIEF

U.N.-mediated Syria peace talks began in Geneva in leaders suggested to Human Rights First that February 2016, and by the end of March, the Syrian President Obama could usefully press his Gulf allies regime and opposition delegations agreed on twelve to help in a series of key areas, including ensuring common points. Russia unexpectedly announced that the armed groups they sponsor respect the that it would be pulling out the “main part” of its ceasefire and release human rights activists they military forces in Syria. Meanwhile, U.S. and hold in detention. Washington’s Gulf allies could also Russian officials agreed on a target schedule for address the sectarian speech fueling the conflict establishing a framework for a political transition and which emanates from media based in the Gulf, a draft constitution. The U.N.-mediated peace talks support international efforts to protect medical resumed in Geneva in mid-April. Conspicuously workers in Syria, and better support the peace absent throughout the negotiation processes has negotiations in Geneva. been meaningful engagement with Syrian civil The Syrian regime is responsible for the vast society. majority of killings and other human rights violations, The most commonly cited complaints about which have left hundreds of thousands of people Washington’s record include the lack of support for dead and half the country’s population displaced. the uprising in March 2011, President Obama’s Millions of refugees have crossed into neighboring failure to act militarily after President Assad crossed countries and many more would if adjoining states the “red line” of using chemical weapons in 2013, hadn’t closed their borders. But other groups, and an unwillingness to adequately support or arm including some sponsored and to some degree “moderate” Syrian opposition forces, which has in controlled by the Gulf states, are also guilty of mass turn made more radical but better-armed groups human rights violations, and while Syrian civil such as ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusrah more attractive society figures insists that Washington’s primary options for those wanting to fight the regime by focus should be on ending the conflict as quickly and force. “The U.S. government is still forcing good as permanently as it can, they say there are useful people into the arms of ISIS to fight Assad,” one things Obama can urge his Gulf allies to do to veteran human rights activist told me. “People will go reduce the violations committed by the armed to those who give them guns.” opposition groups they support responsible for abuses. There is criticism too for what they see as the Obama Administration’s softening of the requirement 1. Controlling Proxies that Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad not play any President Obama should publicly call for the part in the country’s transitional politics, and some GCC leadership to use their power to improve criticize a failure to introduce or enforce no-fly zones the behavior of the armed groups they support, inside Syria to protect civilians. including respecting human rights in the areas Some cite the U.S. government’s failure to lead a they govern. response to the international refugee crisis, an issue Syria’s conflict has produced hundreds of local, Human Rights Report addressed in a February 2016 regional and national fighting forces. While the report. regime’s military—backed by Russia, Iran, Despite Washington’s poor level of credibility with Hezbollah, and other outside forces—remains the Syrian civil society, many activists hope President single most powerful there is a dizzying range of Obama will use his influence at this month’s GCC those opposing it, and who often oppose each other. summit to press Gulf governments to encourage a These include the Free Syrian Army, Kurdish lasting and fair peace in Syria. Syrian civil society groups, ISIS, Al Nusrah and many, many other

Human Rights First BRIEF smaller groups whose allegiances can shift protests against armed groups’ human rights depending on what other forces are threatening their violations, against the detention of children.” locality. It’s an analysis widely shared by civil society The larger and smaller opposition groups generally leaders—that the Gulf states are more powerful than rely on outside sponsorship to survive, although ever now the fighting has stopped, if temporarily. If ISIS, which controls lucrative oil fields and major the main service provided to neighborhoods by population centers like Mosul in Iraq, and has a vast armed opposition groups is a degree of security from arsenal of weaponry, is largely self-funding. Turkey, other groups, or from the regime, the truce means the United States and the Gulf countries are the this service is less needed, the groups less secure in main political and military backers of these other their local power base, and more reliant for political groups, although the complicated internecine nature support on their rich benefactors. of the war means it is not always clear who is This, in turn, can make it more possible for Saudi fighting whom at any particular time. Arabia, Qatar and the others to control the militias There has been a general pattern to this support they support, and have them stop kidnapping and from outside, however, and some consensus about killing locals in the areas they govern. “Now the which elements are dependent on which outside Saudis have more political leverage because the backers. Government and private money from the militias need more than guns from them—they need Gulf states have established and supported various their political support, the legitimacy they can bring,” Islamist military groups. Most of this has come from said one civil society leader. Saudi Arabia and Qatar, although the United Arab The truce has seen the aerial bombardments of Emirates has also contributed. Much of the money civilians stop, but the sense of urgency to find a has been financed via Kuwait, where some business lasting peace is as great as ever. “Whatever levers elements are also believed to have supported Salafi the Gulf countries can pull they need to pull them groups. now,” said one humanitarian worker at this moment There has been intense competition between some when they have increased leverage. of these powerful groups, reflecting the domestic At a meeting with GCC foreign ministers in Bahrain politics of their rich outside sponsors. Qatar has on April 7, Secretary of State Kerry urged Saudi traditionally financed opposition Islamist brigades Arabia, Qatar, and Washington’s other regional sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, with Saudi partners to use their influence with these rebel and particularly the UAE supporting Islamist groups groups to keep the truce and to support the opposed to the Brotherhood. negotiations in Geneva. This is a message Obama In recent weeks, the truce has increased these should forcefully repeat at the summit. groups’ dependence on their outside sponsors, 2. Release Razan making the Gulf funders even more powerful. “The ceasefire undermines the need for al-Nusrah and President Obama should make it publicly known the other groups to ‘protect’ areas from the regime,” that he is calling on GCC leaders to use their explains one Syrian civil society activist who influence to secure the release of Razan preferred not to be named. “These groups will lose Zaitouneh and others disappeared or held by local support from people who tolerated them groups they support. because they were holding off Assad’s military. Razan Zaitouneh is a prominent human rights We’ve started to see demonstrations by women lawyer, defending political prisoners in Syria since against al-Nusrah in areas they occupy near Idlib, 2001. She’s a leading civil society activist who

Human Rights First BRIEF founded several groups and a human rights disappearance, and in 2011 her work was website. recognized with major international awards—the Sakharov Prize for Freedom and the Anna When the conflict began in March 2011, the website Politkovskaya Award. Razan created, Syrian Human Rights Information Link (SHRIL), became one of the few sources of There has been some significant advocacy and information on killings, arrests, and human rights publicity around her case by regional and violations by the regime. She’s played a vital role for international NGOs and it is unusual to have a many years in efforts to defend human rights and conversation about civil society inside Syria without protect independent groups and activists in Syria. her name coming up. On April 14, 2016 U.S. With other activists, she established the Violations Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power described Documentation Centre (VDC), which monitors Razan Zaitouneh as “a widely respected leader of human rights violations and records casualties in Syria’s civil society” in public remarks on Syria. Syria, and she co-founded the Local Coordination Her release, and the release of those taken with her, Committees (LCCs), a network of civilians would be regarded as a genuinely significant step in coordinating the work of local committees reporting the political process, an indicator that Saudi on protests in various cities and towns across Syria. authorities are prepared to intervene positively to She also established the Local Development and promote peace. The releases would reflect positively Small Projects Support Office (LDSPS), which on Saudi Arabia, who would be credited with assists non-governmental organizations in besieged securing their freedom, and reflect well on President Eastern Ghouta. Obama too if he makes it known he raised her case Her work inevitably led to her being targeted by the with his Gulf ally during the summit. regime, and by opposition groups also violating Several former colleagues of Zaitouneh told Human human rights. Rights First that the GCC summit is an ideal place On 9 December 2013, she and three colleagues for President Obama to press the Saudis to help from the VDC—her husband Wael Hamada, Samira secure her release, and that raising her case Khalil, and Nazem Hammadi—were abducted by a publicly will send a message to other armed groups group of armed men in Douma, believed to be from that there will be a price to pay in international Jaish al-Islam, a powerful umbrella group of many condemnation if they target human rights defenders. smaller militias with its roots around Damascus. 3. Stop The Hate Speech Jaish al-Islam is heavily supported, many believed controlled, by Saudi Arabia. President Obama should urge his GCC allies to stop the incitement to violence by media based It’s not known if Jaish al-Islam still holds Zaitouneh in their countries, and to promote moderate, anti- and the others. Zahran Alloush, head of Jaish al- sectarian voices including Syrian civil society Islam, was killed in the conflict in December 2015, leaders. and some believe it’s possible that Zaitouneh and the others are now in the custody of al-Nusrah. She President Obama has called on the GCC leaders to has become an emblem of disappeared Syrian reduce the tension in Syria and to learn to “share” human rights defenders, and of others kidnapped by the region. “The competition between the Saudis opposition forces. There are countless others across and the Iranians—which has helped to feed proxy the country who have been seized by various wars and chaos in Syria and Iraq and Yemen— parties, but none are as well known as Zaitouneh. requires us to say to our friends as well as to the Her work was widely known before her Iranians that they need to find an effective way to

Human Rights First BRIEF share the neighborhood and institute some sort of facilities and personnel protected during the cold peace,” he said. One way to take the heat out conflict. of the crisis would be to tone down the sectarian Physicians for Human Rights puts the number of speech carried in new and traditional media which attacks on medical facilities since the start of the has helped drive the violence in Syria. Anti-Sunni conflict at 358, with 726 personnel killed, with Syrian incitement coming from pro-Iranian outlets and regime forces being responsible for the speech is designed to encourage violence against overwhelming number of attacks. The NGO reported Shias coming from the Gulf. that on March 31, a month into the ceasefire, Syrian While Tehran is unlikely to respect U.S. government government forces launched at least five strikes on a pleas to address sectarian speech, Syrian civil hospital and a physiotherapy center in Yamadiya, a society figures urged Obama to use the GCC town in Latakia governorate near the Turkish border. meeting to push Washington’s Gulf allies in Saudi Local medical organizations told Human Rights First Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf states to stop anti-Shia how they struggle to provide health care in many sectarianism. Television stations Al Arabiya, based areas because of the violence. The Syrian American in Saudi Arabia, and Al Jazeera, based in Qatar, as Medical Society (SAMS) includes a membership of well as the smaller UEA channel Orient TV, were 106 medical centers and over 1700 medical repeatedly cited as serious, long-term offenders in personnel. inciting violence. SAMS Advocacy manager Dr Mohamad Katoub “Arabic media, funded by Gulf countries, is a big part explains, “Our staff have been attacked, including of the problem. Al Jazeera gives a platform to with chemical weapons, and kidnapped. …Being a Jabhat al-Nusrah while Al Arabiya plays a role in medic is a dangerous job in Syria, we’re not spreading sectarian language, constantly relating protected. For instance, there’s a big hospital in the issue to Iran’s involvement and Shias in Syria,” Aleppo. The staff painted a big Red Crescent on the said Mohammad Al-Abdallah, Executive Director of roof to show it was a hospital. It was attacked seven the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre. times. Then they painted the roof black—the color of Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera are the most powerful ISIS. It wasn’t attacked after that.” networks broadcasting in Arabic in the Middle East, On April 13 Dr. Hasan Al-A'raj, Health Director of and both have regularly given air time to extremists Hama, who worked in a cave hospital built into the who fuel sectarian violence. For example, the hugely side of a mountain, was killed by a targeted popular and influential Al Jazeera show “The airstrike. He was the only cardiologist left in the Opposite Direction” is known for pitting two guests province of Hama. Around 12:00 pm, Dr. Al-A'raj left with opposing views against each other in heated the cave hospital in his car, driving toward the argument. Sometimes fistfights break out. It’s hosted building of the health directorate. He was on his way from Qatar by famous TV presenter Faisal al- to conduct interviews with potential paramedics and Qassim, who was reportedly sentenced to death by drivers to operate the newly established emergency the regime in July 2015 for “inciting sectarian strife.” response system supported by the Syrian American 4. Ask Gulf Leaders to Support Enforcement of Medical Association in Hama. About 100 meters U.N. Resolution to Protect Medical Workers from the hospital, his car was attacked by an air-to- President Obama should use the GCC summit to surface missile, killing him instantly. push for enforcement of UNSC Resolution 2139 In February 2014 the United Nations Security and to use their influence to have medical Council unanimously adopted resolution 2139 (2014), demanding the safe passage of food and

Human Rights First BRIEF medical aid to civilians and that “all parties respect 2016 the estimated total global need is $9.3 billion to the principle of medical neutrality and facilitate free address the unprecedented scale of the refugee passage to all areas for medical personnel, crisis, and the fair share for Gulf countries is as equipment and transport.” This clearly has not been follows: $118.9 million from the UAE; $333.5 million enforced, and the United States should press its from Saudi Arabia; $59.9 million from Qatar; and Gulf allies to support enforcement of the resolution $59.4 million from Kuwait. Other Gulf countries by using their influence with the militias and by including Bahrain should do their part as well. supporting greater enforcement mechanisms at an These countries should also provide humanitarian international level. admission or visa routes to Syrian refugees, and President Obama should enlist support from GCC should allow those who are in their countries to partners for U.N. powers on investigating attacks on extend their stays and bring their families to join medical personnel in Syria. Notwithstanding the them. Bahrain regime’s seizure and torture of dozens of its own medics in 2011, some GCC countries might see Conclusion political benefits in pushing for such a measure as Syrian civil society activists are under no illusion that another indicator of their bona fides in wanting a just the Gulf leaders are enthusiastic about human end to the conflict. rights, and are well aware of the GCC’s abysmal 5. Encourage Gulf leaders to contribute more to record on attacking, torturing, jailing, and killing helping refugees human rights activists in their own countries, and that the Obama Administration has done little to President Obama should urge the GCC allies to press the Gulf countries to improve that record. They commit publicly to contributing at least their also realize that a successful, democratic, politically “fair share” amounts toward humanitarian aid inclusive, non-sectarian, economically successful efforts, and to provide admission or visa routes Syria would be a threatening advert for the to Syrian refugees. repressive GCC leaders. An estimated 4.8 million people have fled Syria to But the Syrian war is an expensive drain on Gulf neighboring states, straining the infrastructures of States feeling considerable pain from the slump in frontline refugee hosting states like Jordan, oil price and other economic pressures. It is also a Lebanon, and Turkey. In 2014 and 2015, the source of instability. The more the conflict escalates international community failed to fully meet appeals the greater the threat that extremist groups like ISIS for humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees. According will become even more powerful, and that the Gulf to Oxfam’s 2016 “fair share” analysis, the Gulf will be dragged more directly into the war on an countries should contribute more funding to even larger scale, with even more direct conflict with humanitarian aid efforts to help mitigate the global Iran. A fast and permanent end to the conflict in crisis, alongside other donor states including the Syria is in the GCC’s interests. United States. President Obama should press his Gulf allies at the In 2015, the UAE contributed 63 percent of its fair summit to control their proxy fighters, have them share according to the Oxfam analysis, while Saudi release human rights activists and others in their Arabia only met 28 percent of its fair share and custody, to cut the inflammatory sectarian rhetoric, Qatar contributed 18 percent of its fair share. The and to support a protection mechanism for medical only Gulf state to have surpassed its 2015 fair share workers.  is Kuwait, which contributed 554 percent of its fair share in 2015 at $56.6 million in contributions. For

Human Rights First Syria Timeline 2011–2016

COLOR KEY: ■ EVENTS IN SYRIA ■ HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST REPORTS ■ U.S. GOVERNMENT ACTIONS/STATEMENTS

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

—— MARCH —— JANUARY 23 —— FEBRUARY 28 Jabhat al-Nusra announces Enablers of the Syrian Conflict its formation as Syria’s —— MARCH 21 official al-Qaeda affiliate. The United Nations investigates the possible use of chemical —— FEBRUARY 4 weapons in Syria. Russia and China veto —— JUNE 13 a U.S.-backed U.N. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes: “Our Security Council resolution intelligence community assesses that the Assad regime has condemning the violence used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin, on and calling for a political a small scale against the opposition multiple times in the last transition. Inspired by demonstrations across the region, year.” protestors begin demanding democratic —— FEBRUARY 6 —— JUNE 30 reforms. Security forces retaliate by opening The United States closes How to Stop Doing Business with Russia’s Arm Exporter fire and violently dispersing the protests. its embassy in Damascus, citing security concerns. —— JULY 31 —— MAY 10-18 5 Things You Should Know About Chemical Weapons and The United States imposes sanctions on —— FEBRUARY 19 International Law President Bashar al-Assad and senior Syrian U.S. Senators John McCain government officials. and Lindsey Graham —— AUGUST 21 advocate for indirectly A chemical weapons attack on a Damascus suburb kills an —— AUGUST 18 arming the Syrian estimated 1,400 people. President Obama: “For the sake of the Syrian opposition, saying “people people the time has come for President Assad —— AUGUST 26 that are being massacred to step aside.” Secretary Kerry: “President Obama believes there must be deserve to have the ability accountability for those who would use the world’s most —— OCTOBER 4 to defend themselves.” heinous weapons against the world’s most vulnerable people.” The U.N. Security Council considers a U.S.- —— FEBRUARY 24 supported resolution condemning Assad’s —— AUGUST 30 At the Friends of Syrian government and threatening sanctions. Russia President Obama: “[W]hen over 1,000 people are killed, People meeting in and China veto it. including hundreds of innocent children… and there is no Tunis, Secretary Clinton action, then we’re sending a signal that that international states: “We view the norm doesn’t mean much. And that is a danger to our Syrian National Council national security.” as a leading legitimate representative of Syrians —— AUGUST 31 seeking peaceful President Obama calls for Congress to vote to authorize U.S. democratic change.” military action in Syria. —— MAY 7 —— SEPTEMBER 4 Parliamentary elections are The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approves a held but boycotted by the resolution authorizing U.S. military action in Syria in a 10-7 opposition. vote. —— AUGUST 20 —— SEPTEMBER 9 President Obama: “We Russia proposes that Syria give up its chemical weapons as a have been very clear to compromise in order to avoid U.S. military strikes. the Assad regime, but —— SEPTEMBER 10 also to other players on President Obama calls on Congress to postpone voting on the ground, that a red line the authorization of force resolution as he works out an for us is we start seeing a agreement with Russia. whole bunch of chemical —— SEPTEMBER 14 weapons moving around or The United States and Russia announce the framework of a being utilized.” deal to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons. —— SEPTEMBER 28 —— NOVEMBER 21 The United States says Refuge at Risk: The Syria Crisis and U.S. Leadership it will supply Syrian opposition rebels with non- lethal aid. 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

—— JANUARY-FEBRUARY —— FEBRUARY 17 —— FEBRUARY 1-FEBRUARY 3 The first two rounds of peace talks attended The United States reaches an agreement with U.N.-mediated Syria peace talks begin in by the Syrian government and the National Turkey on training and arming Syrian rebels Geneva, but are swiftly suspended. Opposition Coalition begin in Geneva. No fighting ISIS. —— FEBRUARY 22 progress is made. —— MAY 21 The United States and Russia announce that a —— FEBRUARY 10 ISIS takes control of Palmyra, a UNESCO World partial ceasefire in Syria will start on February Addressing Barriers to the Resettlement of Heritage Site. 27. The ceasefire does not apply to attacks on Vulnerable Syrian and Other Refugees —— SEPTEMBER 30 U.N.-designated terrorist organizations. —— JUNE 3 Russia carries out its first airstrikes in Syria. Its —— FEBRUARY President Assad wins elections in government- operations target the U.S.-supported non-ISIS The Syrian Refugee Crisis and the Need for held areas in Syria. opposition. U.S. Leadership —— JUNE 23 —— OCTOBER 8 The last of Syria’s chemical weapons are The United States officially announces the end shipped out of the country for their destruction of its program to train and equip Syrian rebels. as a result the 2013 U.S.-Russia agreement. —— OCTOBER 30 —— JUNE 10 The United States announces it will send After four days of fighting ISIS seizes the city special operations forces into Syria to serve in of Mosul in Iraq. an advisory capacity. —— JUNE 29 —— OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 14 ISIS announces a self-declared caliphate with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi at its head in the —— MARCH 14-24 territory it controls in Syria and Iraq. U.N. peace talks resume in Geneva. The Syrian —— AUGUST 19 regime and opposition delegations agree on American journalist James Foley is the first 12 common points. U.S. citizen executed by ISIS in Syria. President —— MARCH 14 Obama: “The people of Syria, whose story Jim President Putin announces that Russia will be Foley told, do not deserve to live under the pulling out the “main part” of its military forces shadow of a tyrant or terrorist.” in Syria. —— SEPTEMBER-JANUARY The United States, Russia, Turkey, and Saudi —— MARCH 24 ISIS launches an assault on the city of Kobani. Arabia initiate Syria peace talks in Vienna Secretary of State Kerry after meeting with The town’s defense becomes symbolic of the which include participation by Iran, but no Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in fight against the group, eventually involving agreement is reached. Moscow: “We agreed on a target schedule the Free Syrian Army, coalition airstrikes, and —— NOVEMBER 19 for establishing a framework for a political Kurdish Peshmerga fighters. President Obama, speaking of the Vienna transition and also a draft constitution, both of —— SEPTEMBER 23 process: “I do not foresee a situation in which which we target by August.” we can end the civil war in Syria while Assad —— MARCH 28 remains in power.” State Department spokesperson John Kirby: —— DECEMBER 10 “There’s been no change on our part on Refugee Resettlement—Security Screening what the future for Assad and Syria need Information to be… [W]hat the Syrian people need is a government away from him.” —— DECEMBER 15 At a press conference with Russian Foreign —— APRIL 13 Minister Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State The next round of Syria peace talks resume in Kerry: “As I emphasized today, the United Geneva. The U.S.-led coalition begins airstrikes against States and our partners are not seeking so- ISIS targets in Syria. called ‘regime change,’ as it is known in Syria.” —— DECEMBER 31 In 2014, 76,000 people die in the Syria conflict, according to the United Nations, making it the deadliest year since the conflict began.

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