Part 5/9:

The initial protests in 2011 were met with brutal backlash from the regime, which alienated the Sunni majority and deepened societal divides. Defections within the military led to the formation of the Free Syrian Army, marking the shift from nonviolent protest to armed resistance. By mid-2012, opposition forces gained control over key areas, and international tensions grew as the U.S. and Western nations called for Bashar al-Assad's resignation, while Russia and China remained steadfast in their support for his regime.