Timeline of Syria unrest: how a minor protest led to nationwide bloodbaths

New Delhi: The unrest in Syria began in the southern city of Deraa in March 2011 when locals gathered to demand the release of 14 school children who were arrested and reportedly tortured after writing on a wall the well-known slogan of the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Now it has been more than two years that the unrest continues there taking a huge toll of lives and properties. .Though the protest by Syrians was peaceful in the beginning, it turned violent when security forces opened fire, killing five people on March 18 , 2011.In the beginning the protesters called for democracy and greater freedom, though not President Bashar al-Assad's resignation but the Syrian authorities responded to anti-government protests with overwhelming military force and now the protesters are demanding Assad's resignation . The president has resolutely refused to step down, but in the few public statements he has made since March he has offered some concessions and promised reform. Still the conflict in Syria rages on. Here is the list of events that threw Syria into turmoil: March 2011The first major anti govt protest began. Syrians held protest demanding release of political prisoners. During this protest a rally was organized by Syrians, which was attacked by security forces of Assad and resulted in the killing of five people, which lead to further clashes between Assad's forces and anti government protesters. May 2011Government deployed army in Homs, Daraa and areas of Damascus in a bid to quash anti-regime protesters. It was after this Military crackdown that the United States tightened sanctions. July 2011Massive crackdown in Hama resulted in the killing of hundreds of people.Following the crackdown Syrian President Bashar al-Assad dismisses the governor of Hama. August 2011US president asks Assad to step down .He issued an executive order immediately freezing all assets of the Syrian government subject to U.S. jurisdiction. November 2011Arab Leagues suspended Syria's membership. The Arab league accussed the Assad government of failing to implement a peace plan. February 2012U.S. shut down its embassy in Damascus because of security concern of its employees there. April 2012U.N. sent peace brokers to monitors situation in Syria., after the Assad government claims it succeeded in asserting its control over the country, U.N sent peace brokers on April 11.The report to UN by peace brokers was against Assad's claim.June 2012 U.N. suspended its mission in Syria on June 16, stating that the escalating violence hindered the team's ability to fulfill its obligations. On June 21, Syrian government forces shoot down a Turkish jet near its border, prompting an emergency NATO meeting.August 2012U.N. accused Syria of war crimes . The U.N. Human Rights Council stated that the Syrian military committed war crimes in the massacre of more than 100 civilians, half of them children, in the village of Houla in May 2012.December 2012Rebels captured military bases in Damascus's suburbs.February 2013Major car bombings occurred in Damascus near Baath party headquarters resulted in killing of dozens and wounding more than 200 people.April 2013Syria was accused of using chemical weapons. Britain and France inform the United Nations that there is credible evidence that Syria has used chemical weapons against rebel forces.May 2013As per Hezbollah, Mideast officials reports Israel striked inside Syria, targeting a Syrian facility that housed Fateh-110 missiles.As a result of Israel support to rebels Hezbollah, a long-standing ally of Syria, sends thousands of men to support Assad forces and fight against the rebels.During the same period the European Union decides to lift the arms embargo on the Syrian opposition while maintaining all other sanctions against Assad's regime.June 2013UN presented a report stating, yet nearly 93000 people have lost their lives in the clashes. US officials concluded Assad used chemical weapons against opposition and anti govt. protesters as result of it President Obama has authorized direct U.S. military support to the rebels, according to the White House.July 2013Syrian Opposition chose new leader. Ahmad al-Jarba, a little-known tribal leader from the eastern province of Hasakah, was elected to head the Syrian Opposition Coalition.August 2013 Syrian opposition accused Assad's government of using chemical weapons in the Damascus suburbs that killed large numbers of civilians. As a revert to this inhuman action against its own, President Obama weighed a military strike against Syria that would be of limited scope and duration, designed to serve as punishment for it's use of chemical weapons and as a deterrent. On Aug 31, Obama called on Congress to vote on Syria.September 2013Israel-US conducted joint missile test in the Mediterranean Sea as Washington weighs sea-launched strikes against Syria in response to its chemical weapons attack of August.