Until recently, Syria was engaged in a civil war between those loyal to the government of Bashar al-Assad and those who wish to oust him. This struggle began with peaceful protests in 2011 and escalated into bloodshed a month later when government soldiers fired on demonstrators throughout the country. Following months of military action, these protests evolved into an armed civil rebellion. This conflict had no clear front lines, with clashes taking place in many cities and towns. The rebel ranks, composed of ex-soldiers, foreign fighters and civilian volunteers were without centralized leadership. In 2016, the UN estimated this conflict’s death toll at 400,000 people, at least half of which are civilians and children. According to the UN, at least 6.2 million Syrians have been displaced within their country and 5.6 million people have fled to other nations.

In November 2024, after 13 years of civil war, the government’s support from military allies collapsed and it was unable to stave off a rapid offensive by opposition forces. For the first time in 50 years, Syrians are free of the rule of the Assad family. After a string of stunning advances, opposition forces took control of Damascus, as Bashar al-Assad boarded a plane for Russia and sought asylum from Moscow.

Proposed Legislation: Introduce legislation to promote Syria’s transition to democracy and/or provide humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people.
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Glenn Grothman (WI)

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