| 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
- Alleged 'ISIS bride' charged with slavery offences denied bail over 'extreme ideology' and risk to Aussies
on September 9, 2026Zeinab Ahmad was charged with slavery offences and taken into custody upon her return to Australia with other family members of former Islamic State fighters in May.
- Shameless failed asylum seeker who raped a 14-year-old girl is NOT bisexual - and must leave Britain, judge rules
on September 7, 2026Following his jail term for rape, Karam Majdi, 27, claimed in an asylum appeal that he could not be sent back to Egypt because he is bisexual and would be persecuted.
- Australian ISIS bride says motherhood turned her against extremist ideology as she fights to be released from jail
on August 28, 2026A so-called "ISIS bride" developed an opposition to extremist ideology following the birth of her daughter in a refugee camp, a court has been told.
- Woman plotted ISIS bombing after scouting building in burka, FBI says
on August 21, 2026The woman allegedly posted messages online that included, 'Praise be to Allah for September 11th' and 'When I can migrate, I will poison these infidels.'
- Plus-size Muslim woman, 35, plotted ISIS bombing of NY State Capitol after scouting building in burka, FBI says
on August 21, 2026The woman allegedly posted messages online that included, 'Praise be to Allah for September 11th' and 'When I can migrate, I will poison these infidels.'
- Exiled dictator Bashar al-Assad's cousin will be executed in Syria as court issues death sentence for torture and crimes against humanity
on August 18, 2026Syrian court on Tuesday issued a death sentence to detainee Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
- Woke NYC mayor humiliated by NYPD after suggesting his 'private' wife should have taxpayer-funded police bodyguards for trip to Syria
on August 12, 2026Rama Duwaji, 29, will jet off to Syria and Lebanon towards the end of next month without taxpayer funded security detail after the NYPD shut down the mayors alleged request.
- Report: Mamdani humiliated as NYPD reject request for wife's securityon August 12, 2026
Rama Duwaji, 29, will jet off to Syria and Lebanon towards the end of next month without taxpayer funded security detail after the NYPD shut down the mayors alleged request.
- Syria's former ruler Bashar al-Assad is sentenced to death for crimes against humanity
on August 11, 2026A Syrian court sentenced ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia today for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria's 14-year conflict
- Report: Mamdani's wife to take taxpayer-funded bodyguards on Syria trip
on August 11, 2026Rama Duwaji, 29, will jet off to Syria and Lebanon towards the end of next month alongside a taxpayer funded security detail.
- Woke NYC mayor's wife who insists she's 'private person' is planning trip to war-torn SYRIA where she'll be accompanied by taxpayer-funded NYPD security detailon August 11, 2026
Rama Duwaji, 29, will jet off to Syria and Lebanon towards the end of next month alongside a taxpayer funded security detail.
- Bashar al-Assad is sentenced to death for war crimes
on August 11, 2026A Syrian court sentenced ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia today for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria's 14-year conflict
- Jailed, small-boat refugee who roamed streets before sex assaults on two women
on August 10, 2026A predatory refugee who sexually assaulted two women while roaming the streets of a Scottish town 'looking for a good time' has been jailed for four years.
- 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.
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