Syria's civil war began in March 2011 when the government of Bashar al-Assad violently suppressed pro-democracy protests. The conflict drew in multiple international actors — Russia and Iran backing Assad, Western powers and Gulf states backing opposition groups — and saw the rise and defeat of ISIS (2014–2019). The UN verified 306,887 deaths through 2021; total estimated deaths exceed 500,000. Assad's government fell to rebel forces in December 2024. 13 million people remain displaced.