Syria's Civil War 5 Years Later: The Horrific Human Cost

JERUSALEM, Israel – This summer marked the fifth anniversary of the Syrian civil war. What began as an isolated protest against the Assad government has split the country asunder. Its impact has been felt all the way from the Middle East to the United States.

Drone footage of the city of Homs reveals the apocalyptic landscapes created by the Syrian war. Yet barely five years ago, Homs was a thriving city. Today, like much of Syria, it's a wasteland or a battlefield.

CBN News recently talked with Middle East expert and journalist Jonathan Spyer, who has reported from the front lines of the conflict. In a recent article, he reflected on the human cost of the war.

"I kind of wanted to take a step back and just really focus on that and just the extent to which human beings inside Syria on all sides have suffered. And of course in this war you know 10 million people [have been] made homeless," Spyer told CBN News. "Almost half the population, the pre-war population of Syria having left their homes, maybe 400,000 people [are] dead. You know the sheer magnitude of what's happening in Syria is something I think needs to get across."

While world media focused on the war at one time, much of its attention has turned elsewhere. Yet the brutal war goes on – and on.

"I think what's important to remember is that this war is nowhere close to finishing," Spyer said. "We have, of course, the ceasefire coming in this year. From February 27 it held for a while, but it's now conclusively broken down. The fighting has taken place across the country once again."

The conflict has produced a wave of refugees who are changing the face of Europe.

"That's causing enormous strain on European societies who are not necessarily well prepared to receive those new comers or who don't wish to receive those new comers," he explained.

Spyer believes the war should serve as a wake-up call to the United States.

"Syria, I think, is kind of an example of what happens when America is not involved close on the ground," he continued. "When America isn't kind of around with its allies to keep some semblance of order to keep that security architecture in the region, to deter enemies, to make sure the bad guys stay out. Then what you get is you get things like the Syrian civil war."

Spyer also believes the war "absolutely" helped give birth to ISIS.

"Without the vacuum that opened up as a result of the Syrian civil war, it's very hard to imagine how that Islamic State in Iraq, (which) became the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, could have gotten itself back on its feet," Spyer said.

The war also provided an historic opportunity for Russian President Vladimir Putin to increase Russia's presence dramatically in the Middle East.

As the war drags on with no end in sight, its impact will likely continue to be felt not only in the region, but beyond as well.