There was discontent and unrest, for various reasons, but the war began when billions worth of weapons and ammunition were poured in. And so-called “advisors”. First covertly then overtly.
Google "1982 Hama massacre" le "Alois Brunner".
You can look at reports of weapons seizures along the Iraq/Syria border in the lead up to the conflict.
Perhaps terrorists should just name themselves after whatever the state department is calling them, seems to work fine for the wikipedia.