ALEPPO, SYRIA

The Syrian Arab Republic (185 000km2), is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest. The population of Syria (21 million) is 74% Sunni Muslim, 16% Alawites, Ismailis & Twelvers, 10% Christian & Druze. Syria attained independence in April 1946, as a parliamentary republic. 2010-The Citadel of Aleppo is considered to be one of the largest Arab-Muslim military buildings. Built by Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamdani, it was the residence of Governors. The first fortifications date from the Seleucid period (364-333 BC). You can see the square section's minaret of the Great Mosque dating from the 13th (1213) century and located in the walls of the citadel. (Photo by Eric-Paul-Pierre PASQUIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)