Syria

Latest Syria news, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, including breaking updates on the Syrian Civil War, the Assad Regime, and international politics.

Syria, situated in the Middle East, is a country with a complex history, diverse cultural heritage, and significant geopolitical importance. It shares borders with Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Lebanon. Syria operates as a republic, with a president as the head of state. The country has been ruled continuously by the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party since the 1963 Syrian coup d'état. The Ba'athists have in turn been dominated by the Assads since the 1970 coup.

The country is divided into governorates, with Damascus serving as its capital and largest city. Syria is celebrated for its historical significance, with ancient cities like Aleppo and Palmyra bearing witness to millennia of human civilisation. The country's cultural heritage has been shaped by the influences of various civilisations, including the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires.

Following the Arab Spring and the 2011 Syrian Revolution, Syria has been ravaged by a devastating multi-sided civil war fought between the Assad regime, various rebel groups, and, from 2012 and 2013, Al-Qaeda and ISIS respectively. This has led to immense humanitarian and economic challenges, killed hundreds of thousands, displaced millions of Syrians, and caused significant damage to the country's economy, infrastructure, and cultural landmarks. The conflict has also been a source of international contention and interventions, with Western support for rebel groups contrasted by Russia's backing of Assad.