Escalating violence in a conflict that the United Nations estimates has killed more than 60,000 people since the revolt against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011, shows no sign of ending

The conflict to date

2011

• March 15: First protests after calls on Facebook for a Day of Dignity.

• March 18-27: Crackdowns in Damascus, Banias and Daraa, cradle of the uprising, where 100 people are reportedly killed on the 23rd.

• April 25-26: Protests spread and strengthen, with calls for the regime of President Bashar al-Assad to fall.

• August 18: US President Barack Obama and his allies urge Assad to quit. Western and Arab states later impose sanctions on his regime.

• October 2: Creation of the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC).

2012

• March 21: The UN Security Council demands that Syria implement a peace plan drawn up by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan calling for a ceasefire and democratic transition.

• June 16: UN observers, deployed to monitor the April ceasefire deal, which was not respected, suspend operations.

• July 18: Four top security officials, including Assad’s brother-in-law Assef Shawkat, are killed in a Damascus attack.

• July19: Russia and China for the third time veto a UN Security Council resolution that would threaten sanctions against Assad.

• July 23: Regime forces say they have reclaimed most of Damascus after days of unprecedented clashes.

• July 28: The military launches a dawn assault on Syria’s economic capital Aleppo.

• November 5-7: Attacks spiral in Damascus and its outskirts, with dozens killed.

• November 11: The opposition signs a unity deal in Doha to form a national coalition against Assad’s regime.

• November 29: The regime launches a major offensive on a radius of eight kilometres around the capital. The area becomes the major battleground in the Syria conflict.

• December 11: Washington puts key Syrian rebel group, the Al-Nusra Front, on its terror blacklist, citing al-Qaeda links, a day after the jihadist faction captures a key army base.

• December 22: Nato accuses the Syrian regime of firing Scud-style missiles at rebels.

• December 28: Russia urges Assad to talk to the opposition.

• December 30: International envoy Lakhdar Brahimi announces a peace plan he believes could find support from world powers.

2013

• January 1: Syria ushers in the New Year with new violence with regime air strikes, as Aleppo airport is closed after repeated rebel attacks.