The happenings in Syria have been going on for quite some time: since 2011. Things in Syria began after a group of teenagers and children were arrested for a form of political graffiti. After this, President Bashar al-Assad, the president since July 2000, addressed the nation agreeing that their needs haven’t been met but stated that there were no promises being made about change. In May of 2011, the United States got involved and the Treasury Department made the claim, “As a result of this action, any property in the United States or in possession or control of the U.S persons in which the individuals listed in the Annex have an interest is blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.” Shortly after this, The European Union banned the import of Syrian oil, claiming that they did not want parts of the continued brutal campaigning. In October of 2011, Syrian opposition groups made the conscious decision to try and over throw al-Assad’s government in order to create a democratic system. Many countries began backing away from their trade with Syria, and because of this Syria signed an Arab League proposal that would end violence between officials and protestors: it was granted. In February 2012, The Gulf Cooperation Council decided to pull its ambassadors, and declaring that Syrian ambassadors were not to enter their countries. In June, Abdul Basit Sieda became Syria’s National Council leader, and shortly after the U.N. Security Council authorized an act of 300 unarmed military observers a mission in Syria for 90 days. Violence, in return, intensified. Threats of chemical warfare were made towards those who threatened to bring “external aggression”. Up to February of 2013, the estimated death toll of civilians in Syria is near 70,000. In April, the U.S. had evidence of the chemical weapon, Sarin, being used on a small scale. According to Obama Administration, Syria crossed a “red line” with this act. The United Nations and the United States conducted an immediate investigation on claims of this chemical warfare and it is found that 1,300 people were killed in this attack from al-Assad. In September of 2013, Syria agrees to Russian and U.S. plan to eliminate their chemical weapons. In February 2014, The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons claimed that the Syrians had shipped out 11% of their chemical weapons, which did not meet the deadline to have them out by February 5^th. Most of the latest happenings in Syria include to involve Turkey, although leaders in Turkey suggested they wanted little involvement.