| Area Total | 187,437 sq km |
| Climate | mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus |
| Natural Resources | petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower |
| Imports | Russia 32.4%, Turkey 16.7%, China 9.5% (2017) – machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical products, plastics, yarn, paper |
| Government | presidential republic |
| Capital | Damascus |
| Population | 19,454,263 (July 2018 est.) |
| Ethnicity | Arab ~50%, Alawite ~15%, Kurd ~10%, Levantine ~10%, other ~15% (includes Druze, Ismaili, Imami, Nusairi, Assyrian, Turkoman, Armenian) |
| Language | Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French, English |
| Exports | Lebanon 31.5%, Iraq 10.3%, Jordan 8.8%, China 7.8%, Turkey 7.5%, Spain 7.3% (2017) – crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat |
News about Syria
- Syrian Foreign Minister receives outgoing Omani ambassador
by muhammad.fares on July 28, 2026Damascus, July 28 (SANA) Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani received Omani Ambassador Turki bin Mahmoud al-Busaidi in a farewell meeting marking the end of his diplomatic mission. During the meeting, Minister al-Shaibani expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by Ambassador al-Busaidi in strengthening bilateral […]
- Israeli occupation forces carry out new incursion into western Daraa countryside
by Khadega Ali on July 28, 2026Daraa, July 28 (SANA) Israeli occupation forces carried out a new incursion into the outskirts of Wadi al-Raqad in the western Daraa countryside, southwestern Syria, on Tuesday, advancing from the Tal Abu al-Ghaithar area. SANA’s reporter in Daraa said that two Israeli tanks and a military vehicle entered the outskirts of Wadi al-Raqad and opened
- Syria, South Korea sign education grant, media cooperation agreements
by Mohammad Qassim Rawi on July 28, 2026Damascus, July 28 (SANA) Syria and South Korea signed two agreements on Tuesday covering educational support and media cooperation, expanding bilateral ties. The education agreement was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Damascus by Qutaiba Qadish, director of the ministry’s International Cooperation Department, and South Korean […]
- Regional leaders discuss security, cooperation amid Middle East tensions
by muhammad.fares on July 28, 2026Capitals, July 28 (SANA) Leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan held separate bilateral talks on Tuesday to discuss regional developments, security issues and ways to strengthen cooperation amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos […]
- Syria, Egypt discuss expanding economic ties, reviving joint business council
by Khadega Ali on July 28, 2026Damascus, July 28 (SANA) Economy and Industry Minister Nidal Al-Shaar met Egyptian Chargé d’Affaires Mohamed el-Feki in Damascus to discuss ways to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, expand investment and deepen partnerships between the two countries, the ministry said. The Ministry of Economy and Industry said the talks focused on enhancing […]
- Gulf states back Omani plan for voluntary Iran transit fees in Strait of Hormuz, source
by Khadega Ali on July 28, 2026Dubai, July 28 (SANA) Gulf states have expressed support for an Omani proposal that would allow Iran to collect voluntary transit fees from ships using the Strait of Hormuz, a Gulf source told Reuters on Tuesday, in an effort to restore stability to oil trade disrupted by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Under the proposal,
- Strong earthquake strikes southern Japan, no impact on nuclear plants
by Khadega Ali on July 28, 2026Tokyo, July 28 (SANA) A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan on Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The agency said the quake registered 7 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in the hardest-hit areas and issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas along the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas. Kyushu Electric Power Co.
- More than 247,000 killed, wounded in Israeli genocide war in Gaza Strip
by Tuhama Alsaidi on July 28, 2026Gaza Strip, July 28 (SANA) The number of people killed and wounded in the Israeli genocide war on the Gaza Strip in the Middle East has risen to 73,333 killed and 174,023 wounded since Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. In a statement issued Tuesday, the ministry said hospitals in the
- Syrian soldier martyred, another wounded in Latakia landmine blast
by Khadega Ali on July 28, 2026Damascus, July 28 (SANA) One Syrian Arab Army soldier was martyred and another wounded while carrying out their duties after a landmine left behind from the war exploded near the village of Kabinah in northern Latakia province, the Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday. The ministry’s Media and Communications Directorate told SANA that the explosion
- Pakistan condemns drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, urges regional de-escalation
by Reem Abdulhameed on July 28, 2026Islamabad, July 28 (SANA) Pakistan condemned drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, calling them a serious threat to regional security and reaffirming its support for the kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement that Islamabad stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia and remains committed […]
