Editing 2010s (section)

====Arab Spring====
{{Main|Arab Spring|Impact of the Arab Spring}}

The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Islamic world in the early 2010s. It began in response to oppressive regimes and a low [[standard of living]], starting with protests in [[Tunisia]].<ref>{{cite news |date=19 January 2011 |title=FEATURE-Peddler's martyrdom launched Tunisia's revolution |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/tunisia-protests-bouazizi-idAFLDE70G18J20110119/ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=16 September 2024 |archive-date=6 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106020438/https://www.reuters.com/article/tunisia-protests-bouazizi-idAFLDE70G18J20110119 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.payvand.com/news/11/feb/1080.html |title=Uprisings in the region and ignored indicators |website=Payvand |access-date=19 December 2019 |archive-date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425231858/http://www.payvand.com/news/11/feb/1080.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Social media]] was heralded as the driving force behind the swift spread of revolution throughout the world, as new protests appeared in response to success stories shared from those taking place in other countries. Many governments began recognising the importance of social media for citizens to organise and began shutting down certain websites or blocking Internet service entirely, especially prior to major rallies.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8287737/Egypt-protests-internet-service-disrupted-before-large-rally.html |title=Egypt protests: Internet service disrupted before large rally |date=28 January 2011 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |access-date=16 September 2024 |archive-date=16 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916072624/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8287737/Egypt-protests-internet-service-disrupted-before-large-rally.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Governments also scrutinised or suppressed discussion in online forums through accusing content creators of unrelated crimes or shutting down communication on specific sites or groups, such as through [[Facebook]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Skinner |first=Julia |date=10 December 2011 |title=Social Media and Revolution: The Arab Spring and the Occupy Movement as Seen through Three Information Studies Paradigms |url=https://aisel.aisnet.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1482&context=sprouts_all |journal=Association for Information Systems AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) |pages=3}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! Event
! Date
! Country
! Description
! {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
| [[Tunisian revolution]]
|18 December 2010 – 14 January 2011
|{{flag|Tunisia}}
| Amidst anti-government protests, Tunisia's president [[Zine El Abidine Ben Ali]] dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency and resigned from office.
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-12195025 |title=Tunisia: President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali forced out |work=BBC News |access-date=20 June 2016 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411055853/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-12195025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[2011 Egyptian revolution]]
| 25 January – 11 February 2011
|{{flag|Egypt}}
|On 11 February 2011, Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that [[Mubarak]] resigned as president, turning power over to the [[Supreme Council of the Armed Forces]] (SCAF). 
|-
| [[2011 Bahraini uprising]]
| 14 February – 18 March 2011
|{{flag|Bahrain}}
| [[Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa]], King of [[Bahrain]], declared a three-month [[state of emergency]] as troops from the [[Gulf Co-operation Council]] were sent to quell the civil unrest.
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-12751464 |title=Two killed in Bahrain violence despite martial law |work=BBC News |access-date=20 June 2016 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130222317/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-12751464 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Libyan civil war (2011)|Libyan civil war]]
| 15 February – 13 October 2011
|{{flag|Libya|1977}}
| Facing protests against his 42-year rule, [[Muammar Gaddafi]] refused to step down and sent in the military to brutally quell protests.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/19/world/africa/19libya.html |title=Clashes in Libya Worsen as Army Crushes Dissent |last=Shadid |first=Anthony |date=18 February 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=26 June 2016 |archive-date=3 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503154431/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/19/world/africa/19libya.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8335934/Libya-protests-140-massacred-as-Gaddafi-sends-in-snipers-to-crush-dissent.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8335934/Libya-protests-140-massacred-as-Gaddafi-sends-in-snipers-to-crush-dissent.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Libya protests: 140 'massacred' as Gaddafi sends in snipers to crush dissent |last=Meo |first=Nick |date=20 February 2011 |website=The Telegraph |access-date=26 June 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> As a result, many army units defected to the opposition and protests soon turned into an armed rebellion.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/03/in-eastern-libya-defectors-and-volunteers-build-rebel-army/72018/ |title=In Eastern Libya, Defectors and Volunteers Build Rebel Army |last=Gillis |first=Clare Morgana |access-date=26 June 2016 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405041919/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/03/in-eastern-libya-defectors-and-volunteers-build-rebel-army/72018/ |url-status=live}}</ref> With [[2011 military intervention in Libya|international help]], the rebels captured [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/world/africa/24libya.html |title=Qaddafi Defiant After Rebel Takeover |last=Kirkpatrick |first=David D. |date=23 August 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=26 June 2016 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405014552/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/world/africa/24libya.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and eventually [[Sirte]], Gaddafi's hometown and last outpost, where he was killed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE79J09O20111020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022172715/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE79J09O20111020 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 October 2011 |title=Gaddafi killed as Libya's revolt claims hometown |date=20 October 2011 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[Syrian civil war]]
| 15 March 2011 – present
|{{flag|Ba'athist Syria}}
| Protests erupted in [[Syria]] against President Bashar al-Assad's rule, with police and the army sent in to crack down on protesters.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/middleeast/19syria.html |title=Police Kill 6 Protesters in Syria |date=18 March 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=26 June 2016 |archive-date=22 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322061301/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/middleeast/19syria.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-12749674 |title=Mid-East unrest: Syrian protests in Damascus and Aleppo |work=BBC News |access-date=26 June 2016 |archive-date=21 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721134738/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-12749674 |url-status=live}}</ref> They later morphed into war after army officers defected to the opposition, forming the [[Free Syrian Army]] (FSA).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/free-syrian-army-established-to-fight-the-syrian-army/ |title=Free Syrian Army Founded by Seven Officers to Fight the Syrian Army |last=Landis |first=Joshua |date=29 July 2011 |website=The Jakarta Post |access-date=26 June 2016 |archive-date=5 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105232713/http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/free-syrian-army-established-to-fight-the-syrian-army/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> It led to the Kurdish parties called the [[Syrian Democratic Forces|SDF]] to secede from Northeastern Syria, forming [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria|Rojava]]. The war also allowed for Islamic extremist groups like [[Al-Nusra Front]] and ISIL to temporarily take control of vast amounts of territory.
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{|
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[[File:Arab Spring and Regional Conflict Map.svg|300px|thumb|The '''[[Arab Spring]]''' saw mass unrest in the [[Arab world]] early in the decade:<br />{{legend2|#800080|Government overthrown multiple times}}<br />{{legend2|#000018|Government overthrown}}<br />{{legend2|#800000|Civil war}}<br />{{legend2|#008080|Protests and governmental changes}}<br />{{legend2|#d43f00|Major protests}}<br />{{legend2|#deaa87|Minor protests}} {{legend2|#999999|Other protests and militant action outside the Arab world}}|center]]
|[[File:Tahrir Square during 8 February 2011.jpg|thumb|Protesters in [[Tahrir Square]] during the [[Egyptian revolution of 2011]].|center]]
|[[File:NTC fighters claim Bani Walid.jpg|thumb|upright|[[National Transitional Council|Anti-Ghaddafi]] fighters celebrate during the [[Libyan Civil War (2011)|Libyan Civil War]].|center]]
|}