Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity, despite international pressure calling for their withdrawal. Over the past decade, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights.
Population: 18,448,752
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Map references: Middle East
Area: Total Area: 185,180 sq km Land Area: 184,050 sq km Comparative Area: slightly larger than North Dakota
Capital: Damascus
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 April (1946)