This week, Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson was caught off guard when asked a question about Aleppo. In an interview with MSNBC, he was asked by host Mike Barnicle what he would do as president concerning the Syrian city. His response?
"And what is Aleppo?"
"You're kidding," Barnicle responded.
"No."
Johnson was widely criticized for not knowing about the city that has risen as a major point of focus in the Syrian civil war. But Johnson is likely not the only American to be unfamiliar with Aleppo. Here is a guide to everything concerning the Syria conflict that you've ever wanted to know.
First, where is Syria?
Syria is located in the Middle East on the Mediterranean Sea. It is about the size of the state of Washington and home to a little over 20 million people. It is surrounded by Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel. Here's a nifty guide to begin with.
Who lives there?
Modern Syria was ruled by the Ottomans since biblical times before being seized by France in the early 20th century. Syria eventually secured independence later in the century with a democratic government. Defense Minister Hafez al-Assad launched a coup and seized power in 1970. He held power for 30 years before passing away and his son Bashar succeeding him. Here's a timeline of the country's history for your convenience.
Origins of the conflict
After decades of living under an oppressive regime, the Arab Spring and the toppling of similar governments gave the people of Syria hope that they could do the same. In the spring of 2011, protestors began to peacefully assemble in the streets to call for Assad to step down. Assad responded by having his forces open fire on the people. Activists were kidnapped, tortured, raped, and their bodies displayed in gruesome fashion in public to scare off other activists. These peaceful activists have since become hardened rebel forces and have started fighting back.
The violence and anarchy has become a magnet for various terrorist groups to assemble, recruit, steal weapons, and hide from the U.S. military. In 2013, video footage surfaced of the regime using internationally banned chemical weapons on civilians. This almost caused a U.S. military intervention. The violence has caused massive crowds of refugees fleeing the country.
Who is on which side?
The Assad regime is backed by Russia. Syria is a former member of the Soviet Union and has business and military connections with Russia. Moscow is a major supplier of the government's weapons and Russia can use their port in the Mediterranean. Russia also sees a chance to give the United States trouble since the U.S. generally supports the rebels. Iran has also entered the fray recently by aiding the regime.
The United States has supported the opposition forces. They are more hesitant to provide them with weapons and training since the rebels are hard to vet. Some may be terrorists planning to use them against the United States. When ISIS appeared however, the Obama Administration has had to begrudgingly align himself with the regime to fight the terror group. Earlier in the week, a ceasefire agreement was struck between the U.S., Russia, the Syrian government, and rebels. It is unclear how long all parties will respect it.
How is Aleppo tied into all this?
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria. It has been particularly hit with violence. The Assad regime indiscriminately bombs civilian streets and kills hundreds. The city has been under siege since 2012 by various terrorist groups, opposition forces, and government soldiers all shooting at each other. Women, children, and the elderly are all victims of the violence. Those who can flee the city for refugee camps or other countries and those who can't are likely killed.
The video that went viral of the young boy being rescued from rubble and put into an ambulance briefly brought attention back to the conflict. It is a reminder that violence continues in Syria and is likely to continue for some time.
