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| Syrian Arab Republic ٱلْجُمْهُورِيَّةُ ٱلْعَرَبِيَّةُ ٱلسُّورِيَّةُ | |
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 Flag
 Coat of arms
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Motto: وَحْدَةٌ ، حُرِّيَّةٌ ، اِشْتِرَاكِيَّةٌ "Unity, Freedom, Socialism" | |
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| Capital and largest city | Damascus |
| Official languages | Arabic |
| Leaders | |
• President | Bashar al-Assad |
• Prime Minister | Hussein Arnous |
• Vice President | Farouk al-Sharaa |
• Vice President | Najah al-Attar |
• Speaker of the People's Council | Hammouda Sabbagh |
| Area | |
• Total | 185,180 km² |
| Population | |
• 2023 estimate | 22,933,531 |
| Currency | Syrian pound |
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. A country of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts, Syria is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups. Arabs are the largest ethnic group with Kurds being the largest minority, and Sunnis are the largest religious group with Shias and Christians being a minority.
Syria is a unitary republic consisting of 14 governorates (subdivisions) and is the only country that politically espouses Ba'athism, with Iraq's pre-intervention government having also been guided by the Ba'ath socialist ideology. It is a member of one international organization other than the United Nations, the anti-imperialist Non-Aligned Movement.
The modern Syrian state was established in the mid-20th century after centuries of Ottoman rule, and after a brief period as a French mandate, the newly created state represented the largest Arab state to emerge from the formerly Ottoman-ruled Syrian provinces.
History
In 1949, the United States overthrew Syrian leader Shukri al-Quwatli, whose parliament had refused to construct an oil pipeline through the country, and installed a military junta that approved the pipeline in less than one month.
Israeli invasion of Golan Heights
The Syrian territory of the Golan Heights was invaded by Israel in 1967 and annexed in 1981. It is currently occupied by around 25,000 Israeli settlers.[1]
Syrian Civil War
Following the Western-supported Arab Spring, Syria descended into chaos as foreign powers began supporting proxy forces to overthrow the Assad government. The U.S. has supported Islamic jihadists in their Operation Timber Sycamore, not unlike Operation Cyclone in Afghanistan.[2] They have also killed at least 500 Syrian civilians in airstrikes throughout the war, including 30 when a school was bombed, and used chemical weapons such as white phosphorus As of 2021, the military situation is favorable to the Syrian government, which has retaken most territory thanks to the legal assistance of the Russian Air Force as well as assistance from Syria's ally, the Islamic Republic of Iran.[3]
On 3 February 2022, U.S. forces killed 4 women and 6 children during a raid in Idlib province.[4]
The U.S. continues to occupy the resource-rich area of Northern Syria, to control its hydrocarbons and agricultural output[5][6][7] and has firebombed hundreds of acres of wheat fields. The goal of the US is to prevent the reconstruction of Syria.[8] U.S. and the U.N. prop up opposition forces via the Bab al-Hawa crossing – the only U.N. approved crossing for transporting international aid into Syria.[9] The aid have been described by The New York Times as “…a lifeline for opposition-held areas in the north.”[9]
The U.S. imperialists are using economic warfare to cripple the Syrian economy.[10] These sanctions might be soon circumvented with Syria's admission into China's Belt and Road Initiative.[11][12]
Foreign relations
On 29 June 2022, Syria became the second country in the world to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.[13]
On 7 May 2023, at the meeting of the Council of the Arab League in Cairo, it was agreed to reinstate Syria's membership,[14] after being suspended on 16 November 2011 in the aftermath of the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War.[15]
Sanctions
See also: Economic sanctions#Syria
Syria currently suffers from heavy sanctions enforced by the United States and European Union.[16][17]
During the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, Syria was unable to receive direct aid due to sanctions imposed upon the country.[18] With the only U.N. approved entry into Syria from Turkey – generally used to provide aid to government opposition groups – being destroyed, the three other unapproved crossings remained empty of humanitarian convoys.[9] Despite these adversities Iran was able to supply Syria with 70 tons of food, tents and medicine.[9]
References
- ↑ "Israel unveils plan to double settlers in occupied Golan" (2021-12-26). France 24. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
- ↑ Mark Mazzetti, Matt Apuzzo (2016-01-26). "U.S. Relies Heavily on Saudi Money to Support Syrian Rebels" The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08.
- ↑ "Russian air force takes on rebels in Syria" (2020-11-21). The Levant. Archived from the original on 2021-10-18.
- ↑ Martin Chulov, Julian Borger (2022-02-04). "Islamic State leader killed during raid by US special forces in Syria" The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- ↑ Jimmy Dore. "Biden Caught Lying About Occupying Syria" Rokfin.
- ↑ Aaron Maté (September 7th 2021). "To keep troops in Syria, US leaders are lying like in Afghanistan"
- ↑ "US must stop looting Syria's natural resources, fight terrorists instead, says Lavrov". PressTV.
- ↑ "Long reach of U.S. sanctions hits Syria reconstruction". Reuters.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Natasha Frost, Raja Abdulrahim (2023-02-07). "The only border crossing for U.N. aid from Turkey to Syria is hobbled." The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
- ↑ Mimi al-Laham. PressTV.
- ↑ "Syria joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative" (2022-01-12). Al-Monitor.
- ↑ "Syria, China sign MoU in framework of Silk Road Economic Belt Initiative" (2022-01-12).
- ↑ "Syria recognizes independence, sovereignty of Donetsk, Luhansk -state news agency" (2022-06-29). Reuters. Archived from the original on 2022-06-29. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
- ↑ "Arab foreign ministers agree to readmit Syria to the Arab League" (2023-5-7). Alarabiya.
- ↑ "Arab League decides to suspend Syria" (2011-11-13). Aljazeera.
- ↑ "Syria Sanctions". U.S. Department of the Treasury. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
- ↑ EUR-Lex. Archived from the original on 2023-02-13. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
- ↑ “The New York Times makes it plain: “Syria is not able to receive direct aid from many countries because of sanctions.”
So — unless you’re a monstrous sadist — why not lift the sanctions?”
Aaron Maté (2023-02-08). Twitter. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-02-09.