Syria is a historic Middle Eastern country that has served as a link between Asia and the Western world. It has hosted Roman, Greek, Arab, and Turkish dynasties over the ages.¹⁾

A group of Syrian women constructed a female-only community after surviving ISIS and a civil war. The community, known as “Jinwar” (women's land), embraces women and children of all religions, ethnicities, and political beliefs.²⁾

Syria has no official religion, and its constitution guarantees religious freedom. However, Islam pervades many aspects of Syrian life, and the constitution requires Syria's president to be a Muslim.³⁾

Syria has been in the grip of a civil war since 2011. The conflict began when Assad, whose family has ruled for four decades, began cracking down on Arab Spring demonstrators.⁴⁾

Most scholars assume that the term “Syria” is derived from “Assyria”, which is derived from the Akkadian “Ashur”, which means “prince”.⁵⁾

Syrian immigrants to the United States have a long history. Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Jobs, Paula Abdul, F. Murray Abraham (who played Salieri in the 1984 film Amadeus), and hockey star Brandon Saad are among Syrian-born celebrities.⁶⁾

Syria has become the world's most dangerous place for journalists, owing mostly to the country's continuing civil conflict. At least 17 journalists were killed in 2014.⁷⁾

Syria's civil war is complicated, in part because various groups and foreign backers are fighting for control, including Assad's regime (backed by Russia and Iran), the Free Syrian Army (backed by the West), and a slew of other militias, including Islamists such as ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra, as well as Kurdish forces.⁸⁾

Approximately 87% of Syrians are Muslims (74% Sunni), 10% are Christians (Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian), 3% are Druze, and a few are Jews.⁹⁾

Syria has a population of over 21 million people, including around 22,900 Israeli settlers living on the Golan Heights.¹⁰⁾