Syrian Civil War -- A Timeline Of Tragedy

A Shi'ite fighter holds his weapon while patrolling a road at Sayeda Zainab area in Damascus in May 2013.

It started as a series of mass protests that were violently repulsed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It has since devolved into a sectarian civil war that has claimed more than 100,000 lives.

There appears to be no end in sight.

A week after an apparent chemical attack killed hundreds and with reports that a U.S.-led strike on Syria could be imminent, RFE/RL takes a look at the conflict in Syria from its beginnings, 30 months ago.