Changes

The capital is [[Damascus]], the same city mentioned in the [[Bible]]. Other important cities include [[Aleppo]] and [[Hama]]. Most settlement is near the [[Mediterranean]] coast, with the interior consisting largely of [[steppe]].

The capital is [[Damascus]], the same city mentioned in the [[Bible]]. Other important cities include [[Aleppo]] and [[Hama]]. Most settlement is near the [[Mediterranean]] coast, with the interior consisting largely of [[steppe]].

Syria is currently a [[Ba'athist]] [[dictatorship]] ruled by [[Bashar al-Assad]]. Under the rules of Bashar, the Syrian government has managed to grow the economy all the way to the [[Syrian War]], when Western-backed militias fought against the country's government. Bashar and his government also increased political freedom and access to the outside world since coming to power in 2000. However the government was accused by many of playing a role in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister [[Rafik Hariri]] in 2005. Syria is also responsible for allowing foreign terrorist fighters to enter Iraq through their border and attack American troops. Assad invited terrorists of the [[Hezbollah]] to stay in Syria.<ref>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/assad-defends-presence-hezbollah-fighters-syria-150825203254106.html</ref>

Syria is currently a [[Ba'athist]] [[dictatorship]] ruled by [[Bashar al-Assad]]. Under the rules of Bashar, the Syrian government has managed to grow the economy all the way to the [[Syrian War]], when Western-backed militias fought against the country's government. Bashar and his government also increased political freedom and access to the outside world since coming to power in 2000. However the government was accused by many of playing a role in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. Syria is also responsible for allowing foreign terrorist fighters to enter Iraq through their border and attack American troops. Assad invited terrorists of the [[Hezbollah]] to stay in Syria.<ref>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/assad-defends-presence-hezbollah-fighters-syria-150825203254106.html</ref>

Damascus is an important city for Christians, as it is the city to which the Apostle [[Paul]] was travelling upon his conversion. However, it has been mostly Muslim for centuries, and was a part of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. When the Ottoman Empire dissolved after [[World War I]], [[France]] forcibly took over Syria, then left in 1946, granting it its independence.

Damascus is an important city for [[Christian]]s, as it is the city to which the Apostle [[Paul]] was travelling upon his conversion. However, it has been mostly Muslim for centuries, and was a part of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. When the Ottoman Empire dissolved after [[World War I]], [[France]] forcibly took over Syria, then left in 1946, granting it its independence.

==People==

==People==