Timeline of Syria chemical weapon attack:
August 27 2013 US officials: three days of limited missile struck on Syria starting August 29.
August 26 2013 Russia “regretted” that U.S. cancels a summit with Russia over Syria crisis.
August 26 2013 UN began investigation into Syria chemical weapon attack.
August 25 2013 Syria agreed to UN chemical weapons investigation.
August 24 2013 Syrian opposition asked for the world’s help.
August 21 2013 Syrian opposition claimed 1,300 died in the army chemical weapon attack.
Syrian soldiers are seen at the battlefront of Jobar, near the capital of Damascus, on Aug. 24, 2013. Some Syrian soldiers on Saturday suffered suffocation after rebel militants released chemical substance around their hideouts near Damascus, the state-TV reported. [Bassem Tellawi/Xinhua] |
Major events in Syria since 2011
March 2011 Syrian national plumged into unrest as protestors calling for the release of political prisoners were killed in Damascus and Daraa.
April 2011 Government released some political prisoners to pacify the protest, and lifted the 48-year-old state of emergency.
May 2011 Army tanks entered Daraa, Homs, and Damascus suburbs to crack down on anti-government protests.
July 2011 Army sent troops to the city of Hama, where mass protests were held. Opposition unified.
October 2011 Newly-established Syrian National Council said it had formed a unified front in Syria and abroad.
November 2011 Arab League suspended Syria’s membership. Syrian government supporters attacked foreign embassies.
December 2011 Syria agreed to let in Arab League observers. The mission was suspended in January 2012 due to the worsening crisis.
August 2012 UN demanded that Syrian President Assad resign. Some high-ranking officials defected. US President Obama warned Syria not to cross the “red line” of chemical weapons.
November 2012 Several opposition groups formed the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, which soon won the recognition of the Arab League.
December 2012 The U.S. formally recognized the National Coalition, following Britain, France, Turkey, and the Gulf states.
March 2013 The U.S. and Britain provided non-military aid to the Syrian opposition. Britain and France proposed lifting the EU arms embargo.
May 2013 The EU decided not to renew the arms embargo on Syria, paving the way for arming the Syrian opposition.
June - July 2013 Syrian opposition leadership changed. The army won several victories in two months.