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| - Ten years ago, a wave of protests which became known as the Arab Spring swept the Middle East. Syria, long under the iron-clad rule of the Assad family, was one of the last countries to feel the heat of the uprisings, which had already toppled leaders in Tunisia and Egypt. But as people gradually rose up in March 2011 to shake off the shackles of President Bashar al-Assad, the regime hit back, even defying international law and outrage to allegedly employ chemical weapons against its own people. A decade on, the country has been ravaged by a complex and bitter civil war, which has claimed more than 380,000 lives, displaced half of the country's 22 million people and left ancient cities in ruins. Thanks to the intervention of Iran and Russia, Assad has defied the odds to remain in power, the opposition is decimated and divided, and millions of refugees are living in camps or in exile abroad. Over two days, AFP is running a series of stories, videos, photos and graphics tracing the arc of this devastating conflict, which has reshaped the Middle East, and redrawn and sharpened international political alliances. From the hopes of the Kurds for self-rule, to the failure of the opposition to present a viable alternative and the long search for justice for victims, our stories will explore the fallout of what is perhaps the defining conflict of the early 21st century. In this second of two parts, we are offering the following: + For Syrians, the road to justice begins in Europe + Syrian heritage suffered 'cultural apocalypse' + Syria's Assad set for election win 10 years after start of war + Syria's opposition a 'disappointment' a decade after war + Syria's Kurds: Ten years on, what of autonomy? + Syria's war in numbers Arab-revolution-Syria-conflict-Germany-justice,SPECIAL REPORT KOBLENZ, Germany Wassim Mukdad had carried a deep darkness inside of him since his native Syria slipped into an abyss of conflict and terror until last summer when he finally glimpsed a "ray of light" as he stood in a German courtroom to recount his ordeal in a Syrian detention centre. 1,700 words by Yannick Pasquet. Picture. File picture Arab-revolution-Syria-conflict-heritage,FOCUS PALMYRA, Syria A decade of war has not only destroyed Syria's present and poisoned its future, it has damaged beyond repair some of its fabled past. 1,300 words by Maher al-Mounes with Jean-Marc Mojon in Beirut. Pictures by Louai Beshara. Video by Youssef Karwashan Arab-revolution-Syria-conflict-Assad,FOCUS BEIRUT A decade of war may have ravaged his country, but Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has clung to power and looks determined to cement his position in presidential elections this year. 1,200 words by Layal Abou Rahal. File picture. File video. Graphic Arab-revolution-Syria-conflict-opposition,FACTS BEIRUT Weakened by military defeats and internal rows, Syria's mostly exiled political opposition has failed during a decade of war to close ranks and provide a viable alternative to President Bashar al-Assad. 750 words by Layal Abou Rahal Arab-revolution-Syria-conflict-Kurds,Q&A BEIRUT With Syria's decade-long conflict winding down and the so-called Islamic State (IS) group ousted from its last scrap of land two years ago, what's next for the country's Kurdish minority? 750 words by Rouba El Husseini. Picture. Video. Graphic Also moving: Arab-revolution-Syria-conflict-anniversary,FACTS Previously moved: Arab-revolution-Syria-conflict,SPECIAL REPORT Arab-revolution-Syria-conflict-internet-technology,FOCUS Arab-revolution-Syria-conflict-Turkey-refugees,FOCUS Arab-revolution-Syria-conflict-Idlib,Q&A Arab-revolution-Syria-conflict,CHRONO afp
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