A timeline of some key events in the Syrian uprising:

March 15, 2011 — Activists call for a “Day of Rage” across Syria, inspired by other popular uprisings across the Arab world. In February, several youths were arrested in the southern town of Daraa for writing graffiti calling for the downfall of the regime of President Bashar Assad.

March 18, 2011 — Activists say five people were killed as security forces dispersed crowds in the southern town of Daraa — one of several demonstrations across the country — in the first deadly violence reported in the uprising. Over the next days, Daraa was reported sealed off, with no one allowed to enter.