Damascus (/ d ə ˈ m æ s k ə s / də-MAS-kəs, UK also / d ə ˈ m ɑː s k ə s / də-MAH-skəs; Arabic: دِمَشْق, romanized: Dimašq) is the largest city in Syria, the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth holiest city in Islam. [10] [11] [12] Known colloquially in Syria as aš-Šām (الشَّام) and dubbed, poetically, the "City of Jasmine ...

4 days ago · Damascus, city, capital of Syria. Located in the southwestern corner of the country, it has been called the “pearl of the East,” praised for its beauty and lushness; the 10th-century traveler and geographer al-Maqdisī lauded the city as ranking among the four earthly paradises.

20 hours ago · On December 8, 2024, Damascus fell to Syrian rebels. As Bashar al-Assad’s regime crumbled, the dictator’s 24-year-long reign came to an ignominious end when he fled to Moscow. Now, the green ...

3 days ago · After eleven years of obstruction by the previous authorities, the Syrian caretaker authorities have a chance to turn the page and meet Syria’s obligations under the Convention,” said Director-General Arias. “My presence in Damascus reflects the OPCW’s commitment to rebuilding a relationship based on mutual trust and transparency.

Feb 3, 2025 · Damascus was the seat of the sultan’s deputy in Syria, with a miniature court fashioned after that of Cairo. The economy recovered quickly after the Mongol withdrawal in 1260, and it was booming by the beginning of the 14th century, particularly during the governorate of Tankiz (1312–40).

Jan 30, 2025 · Ahmed al-Shara, center, in Damascus in December. Under his stewardship, Syria’s interim government will now face a delicate political balancing act.

Dec 8, 2024 · Syria’s army command notified officers on Sunday that Assad’s 24-year authoritarian rule had ended, a Syrian officer who was informed of the move told Reuters, following the rapid rebel...

Jan 30, 2025 · President Ahmed al-Shara vowed to be inclusive, but the way crucial decisions have been made has left some Syrians wary. By Christina Goldbaum Reporting from Damascus, Syria The newly appointed ...

Dec 10, 2024 · In just two weeks, rebel forces tore across Syria, shattering the stalemate left by more than a decade of civil war and bringing an end to more than five decades of brutal rule by the Assad...

Jan 17, 2025 · Damascus is both Syria’s cultural and political center; the city has long attracted great interest for its numerous sites of historic and cultural significance, including the Great Mosque of the Umayyad period and the turbah, or tomb, of Saladin.