1. SW Asia

2.  Arab Spring- a series of rebellions that occurred throughout Southwest Asia and Africa in 2011.  Social media like Twitter and Facebook played a large role in organizing and spreading the word of rebellion.  This started a democratic revolution against corrupt governments that has rolled its way through Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and now Syria.

3. Government overthrow Major Protests Minor Protests Armed

4.  It all started in Tunisia when a small produce seller lit himself on fire to protest the government taking away his job.  The government was overthrown on Jan. 14, 2011. President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali flees into exile.  Elections for a Constituent Assembly held on Oct. 23, 2011.

5.  The government was overthrown on Feb. 11, 2011.  President Hosni Mubarak steps down, faces charges of killing unarmed protesters.  Elections were held on Nov. 28, 2011.  Protests continue in Tahrir Square.  Egypt’s two most powerful forces the military and the Muslim Brotherhood moved toward a showdown over who would control the country.  Raise concerns about the role an Islamist Egypt might play in the region

6.  Libya: Anti-government protests begin on Feb. 15, 2011, leading to civil war between opposition forces and Moammar Gadhafi loyalists.  UN placed sanctions on Gadhafi  UN declared a “no-fly” zone to protect protestors from Gadhafi’s troops  NATO troops get involved  Tripoli was captured and the government overthrown on Aug. 23. Gadhafi was killed by transition forces on Oct. 20.  US ambassador killed 9/11/12.

7.  President Bashar al-Assad, launched a violent crackdown last year on activists demanding more economic prosperity, political freedom and civil liberties.  Nationwide uprising and eventually a civil war with armed rebels, many of whom defected from the military.  More than 17,000 people, mostly civilians, killed.  170,000 refugees have fled

8.  Syrian government has referred to the opposition as terrorists trying to destabilize the country.  Opposition leaders say that's just the regime's way of justifying attacks.  U.S. and many other global leaders have called on al- Assad to give up the power his family has held since 1970.  They've also imposed economic sanctions on Syria as they try to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.  United States is providing only non-lethal aid and humanitarian assistance

9.  Saudi Arabia and Qatar, two Sunni-led countries in the Middle East, are believed to be sending arms to the opposition.  Most Syrians are Sunni  al- Assad is Alawite  Alawite -branch of Shia’s Islam  Iran is supporting al-Assad and the Syrian regime, as is Lebanon-based Hezbollah, another Shia ally.

10.  Other nations: Protests and uprisings related to the Arab Spring also took place in other countries as well, including: Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and Oman.  Arab Spring Protest Interactive Timeline Arab Spring Protest Interactive Timeline