CERTIFICATION .................................................................................................................................... 1
APPROVAL .............................................................................................................................................. 2
DEDICATION .......................................................................................................................................... 3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................................ 4
LIST OF ABBREVIATION ..................................................................................................................... 5
LIST OF STATUTES ............................................................................................................................... 6
LIST OF CASES ....................................................................................................................................... 7
I .0. General Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 11
Background to the Study; ........................................................................................................................ 11
1.2. Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................................. 12
1.3. Objectives of the Research ............................................................................................................... 12
1.4. Research Questions .......................................................................................................................... 12
1.6. Research Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 13
I. 7. Limitations of the Research ............................................................................................................. 13
1.8. Literature Review ............................................................................................................................. 13
1.9. Overview of the Research ................................................................................................................ 16
CHAPTER TWO: ....................................................................................................................................... 17
IHL; HISTORY. SOURCES AND CLASSIFICATION OF ARMED CONFLICTS ................................ 17
2.0. lntroduction ...................................................................................................................................... 17
2.1. Historical Background of IHL ......................................................................................................... 17
2.2. Sources of 11-IL. ................................................................................................................................ 21
2.2.1. Treaties: Geneva Convention and Hague Law .......................................................................... 21
.2.2.2.The Development of the Geneva Conventions .......................................................................... 21
2.2.3 Additional Protocols ................................................................................................................... 22
2.2 .S.Hague Law ................................................................................................................................ 23
2.2.6 The Hague Conventions ............................................................................................................. 23
2.2. 7 Customary International Law ..................................................................................................... 23
8
2.2.8 Martens Clause ........................................................................................................................... 25
2.3.0 Definition and Classification of Armed Conflict. ...................................................................... 27
2.3.1. Definition ofiHL ...................................................................................................................... 27
2.3.2. Classification of armed conflicts ............................................................................................... 27
2.3.3 International armed conflict (IAC) ............................................................................................. 28
2.3.4 Non International Armed Conflicts (NIAC) .............................................................................. 29
2.4. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 33
CHAPTER THREE: .................................................................................................................................... 34
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE SYRIAN CONFLICT: ............................................................ 34
3.0. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 34
3.1. Syria after the Ottoman Empire ....................................................................................................... 34
3.2. The Historical Mosaic of Syrian Society ......................................................................................... 35
3.4. Demography ..................................................................................................................................... 36
3.5. Syrian Groupings ............................................................................................................................. 36
5.6. Assad senior from 1970-2000 .......................................................................................................... 37
3.7.Basharjunior Succession Period 2000-2011 ..................................................................................... 39
3.7.1. Weakened and Diffuse Opposition ............................................................................................... 40
3.7.2. The Syrian Economy ................................................................................................................. 40
3.7.3. A Two Speedy Economy ........................................................................................................... 41
3.7.4. Increasing Poverty ..................................................................................................................... 41
3.7.5. The Vulnerability of Syrian Society and the Risk ofSpillover ................................................. 42
3.8. Rising Discontent In 20 11 ................................................................................................................ 43
3.9. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 44
CHAPTER FOUR: EXAMINING OF EXTERNAL ELEMENTS IN SYRIAN CONFLICT .................. 44
4.0. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 44
4.1. Saudi Arabia ..................................................................................................................................... 44
4.2.The West and the Gulf ...................................................................................................................... 45
. 4.3. Qatar ............................................................................................................................................... 46
4.4. Egypt ................................................................................................................................................ 46
4.5.Iraqand Jordan ................................................................................................................................... 46
4.6. Turkey .............................................................................................................................................. 47
4.7. Lebanon ............................................................................................................................................ 47
4.8. Russia ............................................................................................................................................... 48
9
4.9. China ................................................................................................................................................ 48
4.1 0. Iran ................................................................................................................................................. 48
4.11. France ............................................................................................................................................. 49
4.12.The UK ............................................................................................................................................ 49
4.13. The US ........................................................................................................................................... 49
4.14. Conclusion ...................... , .............................................................................................................. 51
CHAPTER FIVE: CHALLENGES INAPPL!CA TION OF IHL IN SYRIAN ARMED CONFLICT ... 52
5.0. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 52
5.1. Controversies in Distinction in IHL of Armed Conflict in Syria ..................................................... 52
5.1.1. The Level of Organization ........... , ............................................................................................ 55
5.1.2. Propensity .................................................................................................................................. 56
5.2. Syria Is Not A Contracting Party To Additional Protocol II... ......................................................... 57
5.3. Protection of Civilians in Syria ............................................................................... , ........................ 57
5.4. Criminal Prosecution ........................................................................................................................ 50
5.5. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 62
CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................ 63
6.0. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 63
6.2. Recommendations ............................................................................................................................ 64
6.2.1. Syrian Government to Sign and Be a Pa1ty to Rome Statute of ICC ........................................ 64
6.2.2. Application official AND HRL in Syria ................................................................................. 64
6.2.3. Syrian conflict should be officially taken as a NIAC ................................................................ 65