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In the spring of 2011, peaceful nationwide protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime escalated into a full-scale war that has since devastated Syria. Millions have suffered in its wake. A 2014 UN report estimated that 6.5 million Syrians had been displaced, and nearly 200,000 lives lost.

These photographs document the lives of Syrian civilians, rebels, and soldiers in the conflict’s early stages. Small protests erupted across the country, only to be met with violent government crackdowns. This marked the beginning of a heavily armed struggle. The newly formed Free Syrian Army gained control of significant territories along the Turkish border, forcing thousands of civilians to flee. Meanwhile, government forces unleashed barrel bombs from helicopters, even as many Syrians clung to the hope of a swift resolution. Yet these early events presaged a protracted and brutal war, one that would shock the world with its unrelenting violence.

The gallery showcases unpublished images from 2012–2013, offering a glimpse into life at the Turkish border and within the embattled provinces of Idlib and Aleppo.

*The paintings were created by children from the Atmeh refugee camp during art activities organized by Safa Faki.