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Sep 6th 2013, 15:49, by Danica Davidson

If you find the conflict in Syria overwhelming and confusing, you're not the only one. Check out a cheat sheet below for some of the important details.

+ What's Going On?

There is currently a civil war happening in Syria.

+ How Did It Start?

Well, this was years in the making, but many people point to the year 2011. Some teens were arrested for writing the graffiti, "The people want to topple the regime." People began protesting the way the teens were being treated, and security officials started shooting the protestors. From there, protests and violence continued to rise.

+ Who's Fighting Whom?

Many Syrians are protesting the president of Syria, Bashar Hafez al-Assad. However, it's not as simple as "the people of Syria vs. Assad." Syrians who don't like Assad are still having disagreements and fights among themselves, and some Syrians still like Assad. Some people are also hesitant to join the protestors because some protestors (not all) have links to Al-Qaeda.

+ What About The Chemical Weapons?

Last month the Syrian government reportedly used chemical weapons against its people. President Assad's government said the chemical weapons were used by jihadists working with the protestors. However, President Obama has said there is no evidence to back what President Assad is saying.

+ What Is Happening To the People of Syria?

The U.N. is now reporting that there are more than two million refugees escaping from Syria. Every quarter of a minute a new Syrian refugee is added to that number. Meanwhile, more than 110,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict since 2011.

+ What Is America Doing?

Your elected officials are now in talks about the possibility of America getting involved in the Syrian conflict. How do you feel about this? You can voice your opinion by contacting your local rep. What's going on in Syria is quite complex, so you might want to do more research first. You can check out this detailed BBC timeline of the Syrian conflict and get more information at CNN.

President Barack Obama will be holding a national, televised press conference about Syria on Tuesday.

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