Syrian civil war
Bashar Al-Asad spoke in front of the Parliament, which was broadcasted on television after the first demonstrations and claimed that the protesters were trying to destroy Syria and "enforce an Israeli agenda."  Consequently, demonstrations spread across the country, reaching Aleppo, the second-largest city in Syria, resulting in the killing and detention of hundreds of protestors. This resulted in the beginning of an armed insurgency, starting with forming of the Free Syrian Army in July 2011, consisting of defected army soldiers and civilian volunteers. Battles took place in many towns and cities across the country. The United States imposed economic sanctions on Syria two months after the demonstrations started. As the military opposition became stronger and more organized, the United Nations declared the Syrian uprising a civil war in December 2011.