President Haffez Assad dies and is succeeded by his second son, Bashar al-Assad, who orders the release of 600 political prisoners.

The Outlawed Muslim Brotherhood stated that they would continue their political activity as the detention of the pro-reform activist cause hopes to crush of a breaking the authoritarian of Hafez-al-Assad. This caused for arrest to continue throughout the nation, over the following decade.

Arab Spring

In late 2010, in response to oppressive regimes and a low standard of living, a series of loosely related protests begin in Tunisia. As the series of protests spread and grow across the Middle East and North Africa, armed conflicts begin between the government/pro- government groups against anti-government groups. The majority of protesters supported pro-democracy efforts, and called for the end of long standing regimes. As he protest grew out of control and the unhappiness with the Assad government; it escalated to an armed conflict after protest calling for his removal.

Rise of Islamists

2013 September- UN weapons inspectors conclude that chemical weapons were used in an attack on the Ghouta area of Damascus in August that killed around 300 people, but do not allow UN to destroy chemical weapon stocks.

2013 December- US and Britain suspend non-lethal support in northern Syria after reports that Islamic rebels seized bases of Western backed Free Syrian Army

2014 June- Islamic state of Iraq and Syria militants declare a caliphate in territory from Aleppo to Iraqi province of Diyala.

2014 September- US and five other Arab countries launch air strikes against Islamic State around Aleppo and Raqqa.

2015 January- Kurdish forces push the Islamic state out of Kobane on Turkish border after four months of fighting.

2015 May-Islamic State fighters seize the the city of Palmyra in central Syria and proceed to destroy many monuments at pre-islamic World Heritage site