France has sponsored tens of coup d'états in french speaking African countries since after their independences ( from the 60s to this day ). They do that whenever a leader who don't want to be their dog takes power.

US has done the same with some South American nations and they even went as far as the Middle East to go get these natural resources.

US & NATO countries have made a join operation to kill Gaddafi in Lybia when he was about to unite most African countries under 1 currency.

I don't know much about the Syrian war and it's origins... but I know democracy ain't nothing without imperialism.