March 10, 2026
News
It has been 15 years since the war in Syria began — a conflict that became one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. Although the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024 brought hope for a better future for many Syrians, it also introduced new challenges. Why was Syria at war for so long? In what condition is Syria now, following the rise of the new government of Ahmad Shara? And what else should you know about the current situation in Syria?
1. How long was Syria at war and how did the war start?
The civil war in Syria began on 15 March 2011 with demonstrations in response to the events of the so-called Arab Spring. Even before the outbreak of the conflict, many Syrians were complaining about high unemployment, corruption and lack of freedom under the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. Unrest spread across the country, violence escalated rapidly, and Syria soon descended into civil war.
Hundreds of rebel groups have emerged, and extremist jihadist organisations such as the self-proclaimed Islamic State and al-Qaeda have joined the conflict. Russia has joined the war on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Other foreign powers have also become involved in the conflict, notably Turkey, Iran, the United States and, with air strikes, Israel.
Although Bashar al-Assad's government previously maintained control over Syria’s largest cities, the country’s power dynamics have dramatically shifted following his overthrow in December 2024.
2. The fall of Bashar al-Assad and its implications
The Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad collapsed after 24 years on the night of Sunday 8th of December. The dictator was toppled by a rebel offensive in 11 days. According to Russian media, al-Assad and his family are now in Moscow.
Although the removal of al-Assad from power brought hope for many Syrians, it has also created significant uncertainty.
The offensive resulting in al-Assad’s fall was led by the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group. They now control the largest territory in the country through the interim government. HTS remains a dominant force mainly in Northwest Syria, one of the areas most affected by both the war and the 2023 earthquake. However, the country remains fragmented due to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeast, Turkey-backed groups, and remaining factions. Local armed groups persist, and attempts at integration are mostly unsuccessful.
Photo: Northwestern Syria is among the regions hardest hit by both the war and the 2023 earthquake
The northeast of the country was long under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurds. However, in March 2025, an agreement was reached between the SDF and the Syrian government to integrate SDF military and civilian forces and institutions into the central government in Damascus. This move was supposed to mark the end of fighting in the north-east of the country, and the return of the region to the administration of the central government, but the implementation of the agreement encountered difficulties. Fighting resumed several times, most recently in December and January 2026, when the government seized parts of the territory by force. A comprehensive agreement reached on 30 January 2026 confirmed a ceasefire, the integration of individual SDF members into the army, and the handover of key assets to Damascus. In ended the main hostilities and enabled the return of displaced people. The Kurds retained their rights, but their autonomy has been curtailed. The situation remains unresolved, and tensions are still evident in some areas.
In other parts of Syria, various rebel and jihadist groups continue to operate, persisting to a limited extent even though many have been disbanded or neutralised. In the south of the country, Israeli forces maintain a military presence.
Additionally, Israel has taken advantage of al-Assad’s fall to expand into the demilitarised buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and southern Syria, breaching a United Nations agreement brokered in 1974. The Israeli military presence in Syria, previously limited to airstrikes and targeted operations, has significantly strengthened in the past year.
Therefore, Syria remains in a fragile state following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The largest violence erupted in March 2025 in , where an operation against supporters of the former regime took place. Clashes quickly degenerated into a massacre of civilians, mostly Alawites. This is an area where Bashar al-Assad enjoyed strong support and where the Alawites, a minority group originating in Shi'ite Islam to which al-Assad and his family belong, live in particular. Over a few days, more than a thousand people have been killed, while armed groups have invaded villages, looting and killing. A recent violence against Alawites took place in December 2025, when the terrorist attack on Alawite mosque in Homs killed eight people. Protests then broke out in Latakia, Tartus, and Jableh, where government forces killed demonstrators. Attacks and violence contribute to waves of displacement and also deepen the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
3. What’s the current economic situation in Syria?
After 15 years since the beginning of the war, the economic situation in Syria remains desperate. Basic services and critical infrastructure are on the verge of collapse. Even after al-Assad’s fall, problems remain with widespread and frequent power cuts even in large cities such as Damascus and Aleppo. The health sector has also been significantly affected. After the war, up to a quarter of hospitals and a third of all health facilities in the country were dysfunctional, and the attacks on hospitals in February 2026 left tens of thousands in the northeast without care, which has worsened the humanitarian crisis.
Although in the past year, there have been signs of improvement thanks to the return of over 1.4 million refugees and the lifting of sanctions, the Syrian economy remains paralysed by more than a decade of war. Basic necessities are often still unaffordable, prices of essential commodities stay high, and inflation continues to erode the value of the currency. People are falling into poverty and are dependent on humanitarian aid.
Humanitarian organisations and local authorities are providing emergency healthcare, temporary shelter, and protection services. However, the need for more sustainable shelter, food supplies, psychosocial support, and medical assistance remains critical. In recent years, Syria has also faced drought, which is set to worsen in the face of climate change.
Despite this, the people of Syria are trying to carry on with their normal lives as far as the situation allows. Caritas Czech Republic is also supporting them to do so.
4. How many people in Syria need humanitarian aid?
The United Nations (UN) estimates that in 2026, 16.5 million people will require humanitarian assistance in Syria, which is 1% less than last year.
Northwest Syria remains one of the areas with the greatest humanitarian need - over 4.2 million people were reliant on aid here last year. The economic crisis continues to cripple public services, with regions like Homs and Hama receiving only limited electricity—often less than an hour every eight hours. Shortages of construction materials and cash flow have further slowed reconstruction efforts.
The health sector is particularly strained, especially in northwest Syria, where over 100 health facilities have run out of funding. The halt in USAID funding has also forced several NGOs to suspend WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) services, affecting at least 650,000 displaced people.
A huge problem is the lack of food. A report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that Syria will face a wheat shortage of 2.73 million tons this year, which corresponds to the annual food needs of 16.25 million people, the BBC reports. Households headed by single mothers, the elderly, people with disabilities and children are particularly vulnerable to the crisis - up to 2.4 million children in Syria are out of school, which is almost one half of the children at school age.
Photo: In 2026, 16.5 million people will require humanitarian assistance in Syria
5. What is the situation with Syrian refugees?
More than half of Syria's pre-war population has fled their homes. It is estimated that 7.4 million have fled to other parts of the country. This is the second-largest number of internally displaced people worldwide. The situation is the worst in the north-west of the country, where large numbers of internally displaced people have fled. They have often been displaced several times and have difficulty reintegrating into society.
A further 6.8 million Syrians have made their way to safety beyond Syria's borders, mostly to neighbouring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. Since December 2024, more than 3 million people have returned to their original homes in Syria, including 1.4 million refugees from abroad and roughly 1.7 million internally displaced persons. According to a recent survey, 18% of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries plan to return within the next year, and 80% expressed a desire to return someday.
However, conditions for returnees remain difficult. Many arrive to find their homes destroyed or uninhabitable, particularly in heavily impacted areas like Aleppo, Homs, and Idlib.
6. How does the current situation in the Middle East affect Syria?
The current escalation of the conflict in the Middle East further worsens the fragile situation in Syria. Due to the conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran, global oil prices are rising, which – given the dependence of the Syrian economy on fuel and food imports – drives inflation and hampers economic recovery. At the same time, regional chaos and attacks on humanitarian corridors are limiting the effectiveness of aid delivery.
As a result, Syria’s security, economic, and humanitarian situation remains uncertain despite the diplomatic efforts of Ahmad Sharaa’s government. The conflict also further deepens the refugee crisis across the whole region of the Middle East, which is currently home to 24.6 million internally displaced persons or returness. Since the beginning of March 2026, Syria has been where people from Lebanon have been moving into as well.
Photo: The escalation of violence in the Middle East deepens the refugee crisis
7. How is Caritas Czech Republic helping in Syria?
Caritas Czech Republic has been helping in Syria since 2013. Initially, we focused on providing immediate humanitarian aid. We also supported the health sector and funded the operation of a mobile clinic operating in the northwest of the country and a clinic in Aleppo. In Syria, as part of the country's development, we have also supported young Syrians to set up their own businesses to earn a living in a country where job opportunities are scarce.
Photo: Caritas Czech Republic has been helping in Syria since 2013
We have distributed food and hygiene packages to people affected by the earthquake, provided shelter in tents and installed latrines with water supplies to prevent the spread of diseases. We also provided much-needed psychological assistance and psychosocial support to help the affected people cope with the trauma caused by the earthquake.
Displaced people in Syria now live in harsh living conditions, suffer from a lack of clean drinking water and lack access to decent sanitation due to bombing and inadequate maintenance of water sources. For this reason, we supported a project to restore a local water pumping station in the village of Kaljibrin, thanks to which people like Kamal – a father of seven and a restaurant owner – could access clean water for free. In the past, we also improved access to drinking water for more than 6,500 people in the Al-Bab area, in line with our current goal to ensure better hygiene conditions for Syrians.
Violence against women is also a major problem in Syria. The conditions created by the crisis are not safe for local women, and they are often subjected to sexual or domestic violence and forced marriage. That is why we raise awareness of this issue. We organise presentations on the topic of violence against women and how to protect against it.
