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
- Syria denounces atrocious Israeli attack on Palmyra, stresses it reflects ongoing Zionist crimes in regionby Baraa on November 20, 2024
Damascus / SANA- Syria condemned in the strongest terms the brutal Israeli attack on the city of Palmyra, stressing that it reflects the nonstop Zionist crimes against the countries of the region and their peoples. “The Zionist entity committed a horrific crime in Palmyra today, which claimed the lives of 36 citizens and injured dozens …
- On his visit to Tehran Sabbagh meets both Iran’s SNSC secretary Ahmadian and Velayatiby Baraa on November 20, 2024
Tehran-SANA- As part of his visit to Iran, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Bassam Sabbagh met in Tehran with Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council. The meeting touched upon bilateral cooperation and consultations on regional and international issues of common interest. Sabbagh stressed the depth of the […]
- 36 martyrs, more than 50 injured in Israeli aggression on Palmyraby fedaa on November 20, 2024
Homs, SANA- 36 people were martyred and more than 50 others injured in an Israeli aggression on Wednesday, that targeted a number of buildings in Palmyra City, Syrian Desert. “At approximately 1:30 p.m. today, the Israeli enemy launched an air attack from the direction of al-Tanf area, targeting a number of buildings in Palmyra City …
- Palestinian children must have international protection – Says Palestinian Foreign Ministry on occasion of World Children’s Dayby fedaa on November 20, 2024
Occupied Jerusalem, SANA-Palestinian Foreign Ministry stressed that the Israeli occupation continues to violate the most basic rights of children, particularly the right to life, calling on the international community to protect children and improve their living conditions. “The martyrdom of more than 17,490 children in Gaza Strip since the beginning of […]
- 43,985 martyrs since beginning Israeli extermination war in Gaza stripby fedaa on November 20, 2024
Occupied Jerusalem, SANA- Palestinian Health Ministry announced Wednesday perpetrating the Israeli Occupier during the past 24 hours two massacres in the strip claiming lives 13 Palestinians and wounding 84 others. “Gaza death toll from the persistent Israeli occupation for the 411th day on the strip has surged to 43,985 martyrs, and 104,092 injured, and […]
- 14 martyrs, others wounded in occupation bombing of Gaza Stripby nisreen on November 20, 2024
Occupied Jerusalem, SANA- 14 Palestinians were martyred and others were injured on Wednesday in Israeli occupation bombing of areas in the Gaza Strip. Wafa News Agency reported that the occupation forces bombed with aircraft and artillery two houses in Jabalia, north of the Strip, and Khirbet al-Adas area, north and south of Rafah city, and …
- Syria’s national football team loses 0-4 to Russian counterpart in a friendly matchby fedaa on November 20, 2024
Moscow, SANA- Syria’s national football team lost 0-4 to its Russian counterpart in a friendly match that that was held on Tuesday at the Volgograd Arena in Russia. This match comes at the end of the training camp in Russia led by José Lana, the technical director of Syrian national team. Our national team participated …
- One Lebanese army soldier, five civilians martyred in Israeli airstrikesby rafah on November 20, 2024
Beirut, SANA- Over the past hours, Lebanese army soldier and five civilians were martyred in Israeli aircraft raids that targeted several areas in Lebanon. “An Israeli enemy drone targeted an army vehicle on Borj al-Moulouk-Qalyaa road in the south, causing the martyrdom of a soldier and the injury of others” Lebanese National News Agency quoted …
- Al-Dahhak: The ongoing crimes of Israeli occupation with US support threatens regional and international peace and securityby Latifa on November 20, 2024
New York,SANA- Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Qusay Al-Dahhak, warned that the occupation entity’s continued ignition of wars in the region threatens regional and international peace and security, calling on the Security Council to stop the genocide in Palestine, the Israeli bombing and aggression on Lebanon, and […]
- Russian air defenses shoot down 42 Ukrainian drones over several provincesby reem on November 20, 2024
Moscow, SANA-The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that it shot down 42 Ukrainian drones attempted to attack several provinces in the country. RT quoted the ministry as saying in a statement “Air defense forces destroyed 42 Ukrainian drones, including 32 that were shot down over Bryansk province bordering Ukraine, 5 over Smolensk province, 2 […]
- Record numbers of asylum seekers have been allowed to stay in Britain after claiming they are gay, official figures revealon November 17, 2024
The figure almost trebled last year from 762 in 2022 to 2133 in 2023, of people who could demonstrate that returning to their homeland would be inhumane because of their sexuality.
- SAS heroes are hit by 'operator syndrome' caused by years of stress unique to the special forces - but MoD won't treat iton November 17, 2024
The Ministry of Defence has been heavily criticised by SAS personnel over its refusal to recognise 'operator syndrome' as an official condition dealt with by British servicemen.
- Fury in Sweden at video of Syrian asylum seeker pushing a 91-year-old widow down stairs before violently mugging her as she visits husband's graveon November 15, 2024
Sweden is set to deport a Syrian asylum seeker after a shocking video showed him violently pushing a 91-year-old woman down a set of stairs before walking off with her gold necklaces.
- The weddings that were cancelled to make room for migrants in hotel that has enraged local residents and was at the centre of 'private healthcare' rowon November 14, 2024
The Best Western Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham - owned by a group chaired by former BBC director-general Greg Dyke - was closed to paying guests on Monday.
- 'Absurd legal rulings and soft socialists have perpetuated our migration nightmare': Swedish MEP says Syrian thug filmed attacking 91-year-old widow is 'the embodiment' of the Left's failure to tackle asylum seekerson November 12, 2024
A furious Swedish MEP has blamed 'soft socialists' and 'outdated international conventions' for the country's migration crisis, after a Syrian refugee was filmed violently mugging a 91-year-old widow.
- Revealed: Asylum seeker was on parole for rape and had avoided deportation despite numerous convictions when he was filmed pushing a 91-year-old Swedish widow down stairs and robbing heron November 12, 2024
Karam Kanjo, 26, was caught on train station CCTV assaulting his elderly victim before ripping her gold necklaces from her neck as she made her way to her husband's grave.
- Archaeologists unearth forgotten city in Arabian desert built by 4,000-year-old advanced 'utopian' societyon November 8, 2024
A long-forgotten city was discovered in modern-day Saudi Arabia that revealed how humans urbanized 4,000 years ago. The ancient people exhibited signs of 'slow urbanization.'
- Archaeologists unearth forgotten city in Arabian deserton November 8, 2024
A long-forgotten city was discovered in modern-day Saudi Arabia that revealed how humans urbanized 4,000 years ago. The ancient people exhibited signs of 'slow urbanization.'
- Muslim cleric who told followers to 'kill Jews' in vile sermon in Sydney sued by Jewish leaderson October 28, 2024
Two Australian Jewish leaders say they have been forced to sue an Islamic cleric over his 'hateful' sermons to deter others from promoting racism to further their political views.
- Murdered MP Sir David Amess's daughter breaks family's silence on their 'unbearable pain' - and asks: 'How was a terrorist free to kill Dad?'on October 27, 2024
The 69-year-old father-of-five was stabbed to death while meeting constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on October 15 in 2021.