Gain an understanding of the Syria conflict in Syria: A Conflict Explored, a season of exhibitions and events held at IWM London — part of IWM's Conflict Now programming strand.
The ongoing conflict has already lasted longer than the Second World War. As a result, nearly half a million people have been killed. Almost eleven million – half the pre-war population – have been forced from their homes and much of the country lies in ruins.
Christopher Phillips has co-curated Syria: Story Of A Conflict alongside IWM, a display looking at the origins, escalations and human impact of the conflict.
How is the UK involved in Syria?
Christopher Phillips: “The British Government called for the President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, to stand down in August 2011. Since then, the British have given various forms of support to the opposition - money, training and political support, but they haven't openly sent weaponry.
Britain has also been involved in the campaign against ISIS since 2014, sending military support for the American led operations in Iraq and Syria. When Assad was alleged to have used chemical weapons in 2013, Britain was expected to join the retaliation proposed by Barack Obama at the time. However, controversially, the British Parliament voted against British involvement and that played a role in Obama's decision to call off the strikes and instead accept a political deal with the Russians to disarm Assad peacefully.
Britain has been restrained in Syria for several reasons. Its actual power is limited. The UK generally takes the lead from the US in the Middle East, and because America has been restrained in Syria, so has the UK. In fact, it has been other powers who have played the most prominent role in this conflict, particularly Assad’s Allies, Russia and Iran.”
