As part of a larger geo-political game the US/CIA provided weapons and agitators at the start of the protests in Damascus. The goal was to overthrow Assad similar to getting rid of Qadaffi in Libya. What is most disturbing and heartbreaking to me is that the media narrative is completely controlled. Similar to 9/11.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-08-14/true-story-how-war-broke-out-syria