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Syria profile
BBC
28 August 2011
Once the centre of the Islamic Empire, Syria covers an area that has
seen invasions and occupations over the ages, from Romans and Mongols
to Crusaders and Turks.
A country of fertile plains, mountains and deserts, it is home to
diverse ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians,
Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shias and Arab Sunnis, the last
of who make up a majority of the Muslim population.
Modern Syria gained its independence from France in 1946 but has lived
through periods of political instability driven by the conflicting
interests of these various groups.
>From 1958-61 it united with Nasser's Egypt, but an army coup restored
independence before the Alawite-controlled pan-Arab Baath
(Renaissance) party took control in 1963. It rules to this day.
Baath government has seen authoritarian rule at home and a strong
anti-Israeli policy abroad, particularly under former President Hafez
al-Assad. In 1967 Syria lost the Golan Heights to the Israelis, while
civil war in neighbouring Lebanon allowed it to extend its political
and military influence in the region.
Syria pulled its forces out of Lebanon in 2005, having come under
intense international pressure to do so after the assassination of
Lebanese former premier Rafik Hariri. A UN report implicated Syrian
and pro-Syria Lebanese officials in the killing. Damascus denied any
involvement.
The government has dealt harshly with domestic opposition. Tens of
thousands are reported to have been killed in the crackdown on the
1982 uprising of the Muslim Brotherhood in Hama.
Following the death of Hafez al-Assad, Syria underwent a degree of
relaxation. Hundreds of political prisoners were released. But the
granting of real political freedoms and a shake-up of the
state-dominated economy have not materialised.
On the world stage Damascus has been increasingly isolated in recent
years, having come under fire for its alleged support for insurgents
in Iraq, and over its role in Lebanon.
That isolation showed signs of easing after efforts by France to bring
Syria back into the international fold in 2008, but allegations of
Syria's violation of a UN ban on arming the Lebanese Hezbollah militia
led to the extension of US sanctions in May 2010.
Syria is one of Israel's harshest opponents, and supports a number of
armed groups that carry out attacks against Israel. Hopes for
reconciliation have foundered over the future status of the Golan
Heights.
Peace talks between the two countries stalled in January 2000, and
indirect talks under Turkish auspices in 2008 came to an end amid
tensions over Hezbollah and Syrian support for the Hamas Islamic
government in Gaza.
BBC
28 August 2011
Once the centre of the Islamic Empire, Syria covers an area that has
seen invasions and occupations over the ages, from Romans and Mongols
to Crusaders and Turks.
A country of fertile plains, mountains and deserts, it is home to
diverse ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians,
Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shias and Arab Sunnis, the last
of who make up a majority of the Muslim population.
Modern Syria gained its independence from France in 1946 but has lived
through periods of political instability driven by the conflicting
interests of these various groups.
>From 1958-61 it united with Nasser's Egypt, but an army coup restored
independence before the Alawite-controlled pan-Arab Baath
(Renaissance) party took control in 1963. It rules to this day.
Baath government has seen authoritarian rule at home and a strong
anti-Israeli policy abroad, particularly under former President Hafez
al-Assad. In 1967 Syria lost the Golan Heights to the Israelis, while
civil war in neighbouring Lebanon allowed it to extend its political
and military influence in the region.
Syria pulled its forces out of Lebanon in 2005, having come under
intense international pressure to do so after the assassination of
Lebanese former premier Rafik Hariri. A UN report implicated Syrian
and pro-Syria Lebanese officials in the killing. Damascus denied any
involvement.
The government has dealt harshly with domestic opposition. Tens of
thousands are reported to have been killed in the crackdown on the
1982 uprising of the Muslim Brotherhood in Hama.
Following the death of Hafez al-Assad, Syria underwent a degree of
relaxation. Hundreds of political prisoners were released. But the
granting of real political freedoms and a shake-up of the
state-dominated economy have not materialised.
On the world stage Damascus has been increasingly isolated in recent
years, having come under fire for its alleged support for insurgents
in Iraq, and over its role in Lebanon.
That isolation showed signs of easing after efforts by France to bring
Syria back into the international fold in 2008, but allegations of
Syria's violation of a UN ban on arming the Lebanese Hezbollah militia
led to the extension of US sanctions in May 2010.
Syria is one of Israel's harshest opponents, and supports a number of
armed groups that carry out attacks against Israel. Hopes for
reconciliation have foundered over the future status of the Golan
Heights.
Peace talks between the two countries stalled in January 2000, and
indirect talks under Turkish auspices in 2008 came to an end amid
tensions over Hezbollah and Syrian support for the Hamas Islamic
government in Gaza.