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In the Spring of 2011, a nationwide protest against President Bashar al-Assad’s government escalated into a full-scale war. Since then, the conflict has devastated Syria, leaving millions suffering. A 2014 UN report stated that 6.5 million Syrians had been displaced and nearly 200,000 people killed.

These photographs chronicle the lives of Syrian civilians, rebels, and soldiers in the beginning of the war. Small protests erupted across the country, met with violent government crackdowns, marking the start of a heavily armed conflict. The newly formed Free Syrian Army managed to take control of much of the border with Turkey, prompting thousands of civilians to flee their homes. Government helicopters dropped barrel bombs, yet many hoped for a swift end to the war. However, these early signs foreshadowed a lengthy and brutal conflict that would soon shock the world with its cruelty.

The gallery features unpublished photos from 2012-2013, capturing scenes from the Turkish border to the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo.