Siege of Hama (2011)

Siege of Hama (2011)
Part of the Syrian revolution
A map of Syria with Hama Governorate (مُحافظة حماه) highlighted.
Location	Hama, Syria
Target	Opposition protesters
Date	3 July[1][2] – 4 August 2011[3] (1 month and 1 day)
Executed by	Syrian Army
Outcome	Protests suppressed
Casualties	16 civilians killed in early July 2011[1] 200 civilians killed during Ramadan offensive[3] Total: 216+ killed

The 2011 siege of Hama was among the many nationwide crackdowns by the Syrian government during the Syrian revolution, the early stage of the Syrian civil war. Anti-government protests had been ongoing in the Syrian city of Hama since 15 March 2011, when large protests were first reported in the city,^[4] similar to the protests elsewhere in Syria. The events beginning in July 2011 were described by anti-government activists in the city as a "siege"^[5] or "blockade".^[6]

On 1 July, with more than 400,000 protestors, Hama witnessed the largest demonstration against President Bashar al-Assad.^[2] Two days later, government tanks were deployed at Hama,^[7] in an operation that led to more than 16 civilian deaths at the hands of Syrian security forces.^[1]

On 31 July, the Syrian government deployed the Syrian Army into Hama to control protests on the eve of Ramadan, as part of a nationwide crackdown, nicknamed the "Ramadan Massacre."^[8] At least 142 people across Syria died on that day, including over 100 in Hama alone, and 29 in Deir ez-Zor. Hundreds more were wounded.^[9][10] By 4 August, more than 200 civilians had been killed in Hama.^[3]