Syria BriefSyria Brief

MIDN 1/C StepanicMIDN 1/C Stepanic

MIDN 1/C WilliamsMIDN 1/C Williams

Map of SyriaMap of Syria

HistoryHistory

Syria has been a country of conflict.Syria has been a country of conflict. Syria has been under the rule of many Syria has been under the rule of many

ancient empires.ancient empires.• Rome, Persia, Egypt, and BabylonRome, Persia, Egypt, and Babylon

Came under Turkish rule in 1516 and Came under Turkish rule in 1516 and remained under their control for four remained under their control for four centuries.centuries.

Came under French occupation in 1919.Came under French occupation in 1919. Finally gained independence in 1946.Finally gained independence in 1946.

History ContinuedHistory Continued The country lacked political stability and The country lacked political stability and

experienced military coups.experienced military coups. They united with Egypt in February 1958 They united with Egypt in February 1958

to form the United Arab Republic.to form the United Arab Republic. In September 1961 they separated and In September 1961 they separated and

the Syrian Arab Republic was the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished.reestablished.

In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, seized In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country.political stability to the country.

President al-ASAD died in July 2000, his President al-ASAD died in July 2000, his son, Bashar al-ASAD took power.son, Bashar al-ASAD took power.

Hafez al-AssadHafez al-Assad

Bashar al-AssadBashar al-Assad

DemographicsDemographics Full country name:Full country name: Syrian Arab Republic Syrian Arab Republic

Area:Area: 185,180 sq km (72,150 sq mi) 185,180 sq km (72,150 sq mi)• Slightly larger than North DakotaSlightly larger than North Dakota

Population:Population: 17 million 17 million

Capital city:Capital city: Damascus (pop 6 million) Damascus (pop 6 million)

DemographicsDemographics

Terrain:Terrain: • primarily semiarid primarily semiarid

and desert plateauand desert plateau• Narrow coastal Narrow coastal

plainplain• Mountains in westMountains in west

DemographicsDemographics

People:People: Arabs (90%), Kurds, Arabs (90%), Kurds, Armenians, Circassians, TurksArmenians, Circassians, Turks

Language: Language: Arabic, Kurdish, Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian, Turkish, EnglishArmenian, Turkish, English

Religion: Religion: 74% Sunni Muslim, 16% 74% Sunni Muslim, 16% other Muslim, 10% Christianother Muslim, 10% Christian

DemographicsDemographics

Government: Government: Military republicMilitary republic

President: President: Bashar al-AssadBashar al-Assad

EconomyEconomy GDP: GDP: $63.86 billion (2005 est.)$63.86 billion (2005 est.) Industry:Industry:

• PetroleumPetroleum• TextilesTextiles• food processingfood processing• BeveragesBeverages• TobaccoTobacco• phosphate rock miningphosphate rock mining

Currency: Currency: Syrian poundSyrian pound• 48.5 Syrian pound = $1 US (2004)48.5 Syrian pound = $1 US (2004)

MilitaryMilitary Syrian Arab ArmySyrian Arab Army Syrian Arab NavySyrian Arab Navy Syrian Arab Air ForceSyrian Arab Air Force Police and Security Police and Security

Force Force Conscription forceConscription force

• 24 months upon reaching age 1824 months upon reaching age 18 Active troops: 319,000Active troops: 319,000

• Infantry Support Weapons: 2,750 Infantry Support Weapons: 2,750 • Battlefield squad support weapons such as Battlefield squad support weapons such as

mortarsmortars

Military UnitsMilitary Units

Airborne Units:Airborne Units: 1,070 1,070 Armor:Armor: 9,650 9,650

• Main Battle Tanks: 4,700 (2004 est.)Main Battle Tanks: 4,700 (2004 est.) Artillery:Artillery: 4,745 4,745 Missile Defense Systems:Missile Defense Systems: 11,233 11,233

• Portable and static surface-to-air missile Portable and static surface-to-air missile launcher systemslauncher systems

Military DevelopmentMilitary Development

Concentrated on development Concentrated on development of Sarin and VX gasof Sarin and VX gas

Advanced surface-to-surface Advanced surface-to-surface missilesmissiles

Primary enemy: IsraelPrimary enemy: Israel Scud-D development with Scud-D development with

North Korea and IranNorth Korea and Iran Developing defensive Developing defensive

weaponsweapons

Syrian Arab Navy Syrian Arab Navy

4,000 regular/2,500 reserve4,000 regular/2,500 reserve 2-3 Soviet submarines2-3 Soviet submarines 22 missile attack craft22 missile attack craft 2 submarine chasers2 submarine chasers 4 mine warfare vessels4 mine warfare vessels 8 gunboats8 gunboats 6 patrol craft6 patrol craft 3 landing craft3 landing craft 1 torpedo recovery vessel1 torpedo recovery vessel

Information as of 1985

PoliticsPolitics Political effectiveness of leadership depends heavily on Political effectiveness of leadership depends heavily on

control of military and internal security.control of military and internal security. Political energy has been channeled toward opposition to Political energy has been channeled toward opposition to

the government in power and criticism of other political the government in power and criticism of other political forces.forces.

Individuals interested in politics are limited in expressing Individuals interested in politics are limited in expressing their opinion.their opinion.• Most direct means include: strikes, demonstrations, Most direct means include: strikes, demonstrations,

personal conflicts with politicians, and even violence and personal conflicts with politicians, and even violence and assassination.assassination.

Limitations due to unorganized political parties.Limitations due to unorganized political parties. Citizens question effectiveness of party activity as a means Citizens question effectiveness of party activity as a means

to political ends and personal advancement.to political ends and personal advancement.

Six-Day War: June 5, 1967Six-Day War: June 5, 1967 Israel vs. Egypt, Jordon, and Israel vs. Egypt, Jordon, and

Syria. Syria. This war escalated the This war escalated the

problems in the Middle-East.problems in the Middle-East. Israel launched a pre-emptive Israel launched a pre-emptive

attack against Egypt to start attack against Egypt to start the war.the war.

Israel gained the Sinai and Israel gained the Sinai and Gaza Strip from Egypt, East Gaza Strip from Egypt, East Jerusalem and the West Bank Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan and the Golan from Jordan and the Golan Heights from Syria.Heights from Syria.

Yom Kippur War: 1973Yom Kippur War: 1973 Surprise joint attack of Surprise joint attack of

Egypt and Syria against Egypt and Syria against Israel on October 26, 1973.Israel on October 26, 1973.

Both Nations wanted to Both Nations wanted to gain back what they lost in gain back what they lost in the Six-Day War.the Six-Day War.

Successful push for about Successful push for about 48 hours, then Israel 48 hours, then Israel crushed them.crushed them.

Completed humiliated the Completed humiliated the alliance and allowed a alliance and allowed a push for peace. push for peace.

Lebanon OccupationLebanon Occupation

Lebanese president Lebanese president invited Syria in 1976 invited Syria in 1976 after a bloody civil warafter a bloody civil war

Entered country 1 June Entered country 1 June 19761976• Suppressed Palestinian Suppressed Palestinian

forces and Soviet-backed forces and Soviet-backed Muslim militiaMuslim militia

Resistance to Israeli Resistance to Israeli occupationoccupation

Lebanon OccupationLebanon Occupation

~14,000 Syrian ~14,000 Syrian troops occupied troops occupied LebanonLebanon

Syria exerted Syria exerted control over control over government government • economical and economical and

security interests in security interests in regionregion

Syria left Lebanon Syria left Lebanon 27 April 200527 April 2005

US InterestUS Interest Syria participates in terrorism Syria participates in terrorism

and its part of their foreign and its part of their foreign policy.policy.

Syria is on the US State Syria is on the US State Department's list of countries Department's list of countries sponsoring terrorism.sponsoring terrorism.• Syria provides safe haven and Syria provides safe haven and

support to several terrorist support to several terrorist groups. groups.

• Maintains training camps.Maintains training camps.• ExamplesExamples: Palestine Islamic : Palestine Islamic

Jihad (PIJ) and George Jihad (PIJ) and George Habash's Popular Front for the Habash's Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) are supposedly housed in are supposedly housed in Damascus.Damascus.

US Interest continued..US Interest continued.. Weapons of mass destruction has Weapons of mass destruction has

become an issue in Syrian - U.S. become an issue in Syrian - U.S. relations, with Syria developing relations, with Syria developing chemical weapons.chemical weapons.• Spurred by the Israel’s nuclear Spurred by the Israel’s nuclear

weapons.weapons. IraqIraq:: Bashar al-Assad believes that Bashar al-Assad believes that

the War in Iraq is an American plan the War in Iraq is an American plan to redraw the Middle East in favor of to redraw the Middle East in favor of IsraelIsrael

Syrian media has been focused on Syrian media has been focused on vicious anti-American propagandavicious anti-American propaganda

Travel Agency QuoteTravel Agency Quote

The Syrian government may not be The Syrian government may not be among the world's most benevolent, among the world's most benevolent, but the Syrian people are renowned but the Syrian people are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality. for their friendliness and hospitality. Once you get used to the general Once you get used to the general weirdness of being in another weirdness of being in another culture, you'll probably feel safer in culture, you'll probably feel safer in Syria than you do at home as long as Syria than you do at home as long as you avoid demonstrations and you avoid demonstrations and political gatherings.political gatherings.

Roman Palmyra Roman Palmyra

Azem PalaceAzem Palace

ReferencesReferences http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sy.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sy.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Syria http://www.militaryfactory.com/countries/detail.asp?country_id=3http://www.militaryfactory.com/countries/detail.asp?country_id=3

22 http://www.slate.com/id/2113567/http://www.slate.com/id/2113567/ http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/03/05/syria/index.htmlhttp://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/03/05/syria/index.html http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/sytoc.htmlhttp://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/sytoc.html http://www.washingtonpost.comhttp://www.washingtonpost.com http://www.syria-net.com/http://www.syria-net.com/ http://www.vacationtimesharerentals.comhttp://www.vacationtimesharerentals.com http://www.syriaonline.com/http://www.syriaonline.com/ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/syria/index.htmlhttp://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/syria/index.html http://www.einnews.com/syria/newsfeed-SyriaMilitaryhttp://www.einnews.com/syria/newsfeed-SyriaMilitary http://www.photius.com/wfb1999/syria/syria_military.htmlhttp://www.photius.com/wfb1999/syria/syria_military.html http://globalization.about.com/od/bigstories/a/bigstorysyria.htmhttp://globalization.about.com/od/bigstories/a/bigstorysyria.htm http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-13568.htmlhttp://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-13568.html