2013 in Syria

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See also:	Other events of 2013 List of years in Syria

Events from the year 2013 in Syria.

Incumbents

• President: Bashar al-Assad
• Prime Minister: Wael Nader al-Halqi

Events

For events related to the Civil War, see Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (January–April 2013) and Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (May–December 2013)

January

• 2 January - Syrian Civil War
  • The United Nations says the estimated death toll from the conflict has surpassed 60,000 people.^[1]
• 9 January - Forty-eight Iranians who were kidnapped by Free Syrian Army rebels in the capital Damascus in August 2012 are released in exchange for 2,130 prisoners held by the Syrian government.^[2]
• 14 January - Syrian Civil War
  • At least 57 countries submit a petition to the UN Security Council, calling on it to refer the conflict to the International Criminal Court for a pending war crimes investigation.^[3]
• 17 January - Basatin al-Hasawiya massacre: According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 106 people were massacred by pro-government forces in the Basatin al-Hasawiya district of Homs, including children.^[4]

February

• 9 February - Syrian Civil War
  • President of Syria Bashar al-Assad reshuffles his cabinet, appointing seven new ministers in a move analysts describe as an attempt to stabilize the country's economy.^[5]
  • Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi makes an official statement, extending an invitation to the opposition for dialogue aimed at achieving a political solution to the conflict.^[6]
• 15 February - After intense fighting an estimated 40,000 people become displaced in the city of Shadadah, Hasakah, adding to the estimated 2.5 million people already internally displaced in Syria.^[7]
• 24 February - French freelance photographer Olivier Voisin, who was wounded near Idlib in January 2013, dies in Antakya, Turkey, after surgery, becoming the 23rd journalist to be killed in the conflict.^[8]
• 25 February - Syrian Civil War
  • Syria’s foreign minister said the Assad government was willing to meet with rebels, the first time that a high-ranking official has indicated a desire for such talks. The opposition calls the offer disingenous.^[9]
  • The Syrian opposition agrees to attend an international summit in Rome, Italy, after foreign aid pledge.^[9]
• 28 February - The United States announces that it will provide $60 million of food and medical aid, but not weapons, to rebel fighters.^[10]

March

• 6 March - Syrian Civil War
  • Syrian rebels capture Ar-Raqqah, the first major city to be under rebel control in the Syrian civil war.^[11]
  • British Foreign Secretary William Hague announces the UK will send armoured vehicles and body armour to opposition forces in Syria to help save lives.^[12]
  • The Syrian Opposition claims that the government of President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons in an attack on their forces in Aleppo (See Khan al-Assal chemical attack).^[13]
• 26 March - The Arab League summit begins in Qatar, Doha. The Syrian opposition (the National Coalition) takes Syria's official seat summit in Doha, Qatar. The National Coalition delegation is led by Moaz al-Khatib, who has offered to resign as the head of the Coalition. The Syria conflict is a key issue of the summit.^[14]
• 27 March - The Syrian opposition opens its first embassy, in Qatar.^[15]
• 29 March - During a U.N. conference, Iran, North Korea and Syria block adoption of a United Nations treaty that would regulate the international arms trade, a proposal which required agreement from all 193 UN member states to be adopted at the conference. A spokesman for Kenya and other countries, including the U.S., then asked the treaty be brought before the General Assembly, where unanimity is not required.^[16]

April

• 2 April - The United Nations General Assembly approves the first Arms Trade Treaty to regulate the multibillion-dollar global trade in conventional arms with 154 votes in favor, three member states – Iran, North Korea and Syria – against the decision, and 23 abstentions.^[17]
• 13 April - Syrian Civil War
  • The Times reports that evidence smuggled out of Syria indicates the use of chemical weapons in the ongoing conflict.^[18]
• 21 April - Locals and activists in Damascus report that the Syrian Army killed at least 100 people in the suburb of Jdeit al-Fadel.^[19]
• 22 April - The European Union eases an oil trade embargo it imposed on Syria during the early stages of the civil war to help the finances of the opposition; European companies will now be able to import crude oil and petroleum products from opposition-held areas, where approved by the opposition National Coalition.^[20]
• 25 April - The United States Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel claims that US intelligence has concluded "with some degree of varying confidence" that the Government of Syria has used sarin gas during the past two years in the civil war, echoing previous statements from Britain, France, and Israel.^[21]

Deaths

• Slimane Hadj Abderrahmane
• November 17 - Abdul Qader Saleh, commander of Al-Tawhid Brigade

See also

• Syrian civil war

References

1. "U.N.'s Syria death toll jumps dramatically to 60,000-plus". CNN. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
2. Barnard, Anne; Arsu, Sebnem (9 January 2013). "Iranian Captives Freed in Major Prisoner Exchange in Syria". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
3. Barnard, Anne (19 January 2013). "Syria Reacts With Outrage to War-Crimes Petition". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
4. "Syria crisis: BBC sees evidence of Homs massacre - BBC News". BBC News. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
5. Barnard, Anne; Kershner, Isabel (9 February 2013). "Israeli Says Syria Twisted Comments by Rebel Supporter". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
6. Staff, By CNN (11 February 2013). "Syrian army in Homs is showing strains of war". CNN. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
7. "Around 40,000 flee heavy fighting in east Syria: U.N.". Reuters. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
8. "French photographer mortally wounded in Syria described adrenaline in war | Fox News". Fox News. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
9. "Kerry promises fresh ideas to stop Syrian war". Washington Post. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
10. "Syria rebels to get direct non-lethal support from U.S. for 1st time, Secretary Kerry announces". www.cbsnews.com. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
11. "Syrian activists say rebels seize security buildings in Raqqa, declare it 1st 'liberated' city | Fox News". Fox News. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
12. "William Hague offers Syrian rebels armoured vehicles and body armour". Telegraph.co.uk. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
13. Barnard, Anne (19 March 2013). "Syria and Activists Trade Accusations on Chemical Weapons". The New York Times.
14. "Opposition takes Syria seat at Arab League summit - BBC News". BBC News. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
15. Staff, By CNN (27 March 2013). "Syrian opposition opens embassy in Qatar - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
16. "Iran, N. Korea, Syria block U.N. arms trade treaty". USA TODAY. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
17. Macfarquhar, Neil (2 April 2013). "Arms Trade Treaty Approved at U.N.". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
18. "Chemical weapons used in Syria: the first evidence | The Times". The Times (UK). 13 April 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
19. "At least 100 dead after 6 days of clashes in Syria, activists say | Fox News". Fox News. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
20. "EU eases Syria oil embargo to help opposition". BBC News. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
21. "U.S. intelligence believes Syria's Assad used chemical weapons 'on a small scale'". Washington Post. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2016.