The Roots, Factors, and Reasons that Made the Syrian Crisis a Protracted Crisis

The Syrian crisis began as a protest movement in 2011 and changed into an armed conflict and a global crisis, leaving profound regional and international repercussions. This study aims to provide a detailed analysis of the sequence of events in the Syrian crisis, starting with the Hama massacre in 1982 and the Damascus Declaration in 2005, up to the last developments that have led to the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.Through the historical analytical approach, the study explored the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the Syrian crisis and leading to multiple international interferences, and how these interferences contributed to changing the development of events in order to provide a profounder understanding of the Syrian crisis, not only as a local or regional conflict, but also as a crisis with a global dimension that requires international cooperation to find lasting solutions to the humanitarian and political challenges it has forced. The study also included a review of international agreements and laws related to refugee rights and how these agreements have affected the international community’s dealings with Syrian refugees. The concept of refugee was also addressed as one of the essential aspects of the crisis, with reference to the historical development of refugee movements around the world and international legislation and institutions concerned with refugee rights. The study presented the impact of the Arab Spring on the transformation of the Syrian protests into an armed conflict and later into a huge humanitarian crisis that has displaced millions.