War-torn Syria Split into Three Regions

According to the Associated Press, two and a half years into Syria's civil war, the once highly-centralized authoritarian state has effectively split into three distinct parts, each boasting its own flags, security agencies and judicial system. The regime of President Bashar Al Assad retains control of a corridor running from north to south along the Mediterranean shore, while large sections of Syria's interior and southwest remain in rebel hands, and Syrian Kurds control the northeast. The dividing lines remain very fluid, as regime and rebel forces have traded advances and attacks for months now. While foreign aid to both rebels and Assad's forces is on the rise, and diplomatic efforts toward peace start and stop, the U.N. now estimates that more than 100,000 Syrians have died in the conflict, with millions more forced to flee to neighboring states.

Read more
Hints: View this page full screen. Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.

Most Recent

  • Al Bello / Getty

    The Savannah Bananas Take Banana Ball on Tour

    Images of the Savannah Bananas baseball team, at home and on tour

  • Arun Thakur / AFP / Getty

    Photos of the Week: Bull Vault, Buddha Wash, Bass Guitar

    A diving championship in England, Darth Vader on trial in Chile, Manhattanhenge in New York City, a graduation ceremony at West Point, ongoing floods in northern Italy, and much more

  • Kin Cheung / AP

    The 2023 Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling Race

    Images of racers running and tumbling down a very steep hill—in pursuit of cheese

  • Martin Meissner / AP

    Photos of the Week: Double Ducks, Thirsty Monkey, Island Cathedral

    The Chelsea Flower Show in England, a scarecrow fair in Italy, a mountain-bike race in Bolivia, a volcanic eruption in Indonesia, the Cannes Film Festival in France, and much more