January 12: Lebanon
Lebanon’s unity government collapses after 11 Hezbollah ministers and their political allies resign. A former businessman and prime minister Sunni Najib Mikati is appointed to form a new government. According to Lebanon’s constitution, the president must be a Maronite Christian, a prime minister a Sunni, and the Speaker of parliament a Shia.
January 21: Jordan
Inspired by the Tunisian revolution, more than 5,000 people demonstrate in several cities in Jordan, protesting high unemployment and rising prices, and demanding the government’s resignation. The protesters also demand that the post of prime minister be elected rather than appointed by the king.
January 27: Yemen
Encouraged by protests in other Middle Eastern countries, tens of thousands of Yemeni protesters spill onto the streets of the country’s capital, Sanaa, demanding that President Abdullah Saleh, now in power for 30 years, step down. They also protest economic problems, high unemployment, corruption, and lack of political freedoms. In response to the demonstrations, President Saleh makes a promise not to stand for elections again in 2013, or to hand power to his son.
February 2: Yemen
Popular protests in Tunisia and other countries in the region encourage Yemen’s anti-governments groups who manage to gather more than 20,000 protesters who call for economic reforms and the government to step down. President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power for more than 30 years, offers several concessions, including a promise to step down in 2013 and not handing power to his son. Yemen has an unemployment rate reaching 35 percent.
February 10: Jordan
Under the pressure of the five-week largely peaceful street protests, Jordan’s King Abdullah sacks Prime Minister Samir Rifai and forms a new government which, under the leadership of former General Marouf Bakhit, is given the task to implement reforms. The protesters have demanded action to fix economic problems, such as high unemployment and rising food prices. They also have called for political reforms, including increased popular participation in the political process.
February 14: Iran
Two people are killed in violent protests in Iran when thousands of opposition supporters clashed with police. The demonstrators gathered in Tehran and other cities in solidarity with protesters in Egypt and Tunisia and other countries throughout the region. The former Prime Minister and main opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has been placed under house arrest ahead of the protests.
February 22: Bahrain
Tens of thousands of people in Bahrain join street protests in the capital, Manama, calling for the government’s resignation and political reforms that would lead to a constitutional monarchy. Several people are killed after the riot police crack down on the protesters. (February 26): In conciliatory movement, the government sacks four government ministers and drops the charges against the prominent Shia opposition leader Hassan Mushaima, allowing him to return to Bahrain from exile.
February 28: Oman
After three days of popular protests in Oman, during which the demonstrators demanded political and economic reforms, the country’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said promises to create more jobs. He also forms a new ministerial committee, which is supposed to look into demands to give more powers to the elected consultative council. Sultan Qaboos has been in power since 1970, when he took over the country from his father.
March 14: Bahrain
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf states send troops to Bahrain after the country requested them to help suppress the continued violent anti-government protests. They are also supposed to protect oil and gas installations and financial institutions. Most of the protesters call for more powers to be delegated to the elected parliament. Some, however, want Bahrain to become a republic. (March 15): After violent clashes that injured more than 200 people, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa declares a three-month state of emergency. The UN condemns the excessive use of force.
March 15: Syria
Hundreds of people in Syria initiate rare street protests, calling for democratic reforms, the release of political prisoners, and an end to corruption. The riot police arrests about 35 people. Bashar al-Assad has been ruling Syria through emergency law since 2000. He took over from his father who was in power for 30 years. Like other Middle Eastern countries, Syria suffers from high poverty and unemployment. (March 21): Thousands of protesters show up for a rally in the southern city of Deraa, enraged by the killing of a demonstrator by the riot police, which leads to days of violent unrest and more deaths. (March 24): Pressured by the continued protests, the government announces some conciliatory reforms, including ending emergency law of 1963. The steps, however, do not appease the crowds, and the protests spread to other cities across Syria.
March 18: Yemen
A police sniper fires into a crowd of anti-government demonstrators in Yemeni capital, Sanaa, killing more than 45 people and injuring 270 others. The country’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power for 32 years, declares a state of emergency. The protests spread to other cities across the country. (March 23): Under the pressure of continued widespread protests, President Saleh sacks the entire cabinet and offers to step down in January. The opposition does not accept the offer.
April 23: Yemen
Pressed by the continued demonstrations, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh accepts a plan drawn by the Gulf Arab states, which forces him to step down in 30 days and turn over power to the vice president in exchange for immunity from prosecution. The plan also makes the interim government responsible for organizing presidential elections within two months. The opposition, however, does not want to accept immunity from prosecution for President Saleh and his family.
April 25: Syria
Several demonstrators are killed in Syria after the government troops open fire on protesters in the city of Deraa. Tanks and troops also advance on the protesters in the country’s capital, Damascus. So far, more than 350 people have been killed in protests across Syria since they started in March.
April 27: Palestinian Territories
The Fatah party of the Palestinian Authority that is in charge of the West Bank and Hamas ruling the Gaza Strip reach a reconciliation agreement. The plan includes forming an interim government and holding elections in eight months. The two groups have been divided for more than four years. Their reconciliation breaks down a big barrier to a possible future Palestinian statehood. Israel warns that it will not negotiate with the Palestinian Authority if Hamas is involved. The United States, on the other hand, comments that the future unity government will have to recognize Israel and renounce violence.
June 3: Yemen
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is seriously wounded in an attack on his presidential compound, suffering shrapnel injuries and burns. The blast caused by a planted bomb kills seven other people and injures the prime minster, deputy prime minister, and the governor of the capital, Sanaa. (June 6): While injured President Saleh is transported to Saudi Arabia for treatment, Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi takes over presidential responsibilities.
June 15: Syria
The United Nations report presents evidence that Syrian government has used live ammunition and tanks against mostly unarmed civilians during the recent pro-democracy protests. It is believed that more than 1,100 people have been killed and more than 10,000 detained. The injured have been denied medical care. More than 8,000 people have fled into Turkey. So far, attempts to draft a UN Security Council resolution condemning Syria for its crackdown on the protesters have been opposed by Russia and China.
June 22: Bahrain
A court in Bahrain gives long jail sentences to 21 opposition members, including eight life-sentences for their participation in recent pro-democracy protests, which were suppressed by the government forces. Among those who received life sentences are Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, one of the main human rights activists in Bahrain, and Hassan Mushaima, who returned from exile in February to take part in the pro-democratic movement. Bahrain is expected to hold more trials.
September 6: Turkey/Israel
Turkey suspends its defense ties with Israel, including military cooperation, after Israel refused to apologize for the 2010 killing of nine Turkish humanitarian activists during a raid on a ship going to the Gaza Strip. Earlier this month, Turkey expelled Israel’s ambassador.
September 23: Palestinian Territories/Israel
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas officially asks the United Nations Security Council to recognize a Palestinian state and grant it a full membership at the United Nations. He seeks recognition based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The request comes after months of stalled peace negotiations over Israel’s continued expansion of settlements in the occupied territories. Currently, Palestinians have permanent observer status at the UN. In response to the bid, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel disagrees with the Palestinian proposal and urges them to come back to the negotiations table. The United States says it will veto the request.
September 27: Israel/Palestinian Territories
Israel announces it will build additional 1,100 homes in the Jewish settlement at Gilo outside of Jerusalem. The Gilo settlement has been built on lands captured in the 1967 war and is considered illegal under the international law. The United States, the United Nations, and the European Union criticize the move.
October 1: Yemen
U.S. forces assassinate Anwar al-Awlaki, a US-born al-Qaeda leader in Yemen. This is a major blow to the terrorist organization, as al-Awlaki was its major figure. The U.S. intelligence cooperated with the Yemeni security forces on this mission.
October 5: Syria
China and Russia veto a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Syria for its violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrators. The two countries say the resolution did not include guarantees against outside military intervention. Since the beginning of the unrest in March, more than 2,700 people have been killed.
October 18: Israel/Palestinian Territories
Israel and Hamas leaders who control the Gaza Strip come to an agreement on swapping 550 Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Hamas in 2006. Rather than to the Gaza Strip, the released Palestinians will be repatriated to the West Bank, which is ruled by the Fatah faction.
November 23: Yemen
Under a Saudi Arabian-brokered deal, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh agrees to step down as president and hand over power to his deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. A unity government, which will include the opposition members, will be formed, and new elections will take place in February next year. In return, President Saleh obtains immunity from prosecution.
December 22: Iraq
At least 68 people are killed and scores injured in 16 coordinated attacks across Iraq in mostly Shia areas. Al-Qaeda in Iraq claims responsibility. The attacks come just after the United States completed its troop pullout. Iraq’s Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi blames Prime Minister Nouri Maliki for the recent surge in violence. Hashemi, who is the country’s prominent Sunni politician, has been in hiding subject to an arrest warrant on terrorist charges issued by Prime Minister Maliki. He denies the charge. In his support, the main Sunni political party al-Iraqiya boycotts the parliament and the cabinet, threatening the future of the unity government.