In dust and blood- Syria's civil war shuffles past its third anniversary

Aftermath of a barrel bomb attack, Aleppo, Syria.

Credit: Firas Badawi//Reuters Last week the UN human rights head released a report indicating widespread use of torture by the Assad regime and many parts of the armed opposition- in particular religious hardliners. An activist group estimated the total death toll in the Syrian civil war to be 150,000 a month ago. Hard numbers are difficult to come by, given that outside journalists are often targets. After an initial nonviolent period, the Assad regime began using lethal force on protestors in April 2011. Thus it could be said that the Syria we see today was birthed three years ago.