Idlib Governorate
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Idlib Governorate ( ar, مُحافظة ادلب /
ALA-LC ALA-LC (American Library AssociationLibrary of Congress) is a set of standards for romanization, the representation of text in other writing systems using the Latin script. Applications The system is used to represent bibliographic information by ...
: ''Muḥāfaẓat Idlib'') is one of the 14
governorates A governorate is an administrative division of a state. It is headed by a governor. As English-speaking nations tend to call regions administered by governors either states or provinces, the term ''governorate'' is often used in translation from ...
of
Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
. It is situated in northwestern Syria, bordering
Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
's Hatay province to the north,
Aleppo Governorate Aleppo Governorate ( ar, محافظة حلب / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Ḥalab'' / ) is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is the most populous governorate in Syria with a population of more than 4,867,000 (2011 Est.), almost 23% of t ...
to the east,
Hama Governorate Hama Governorate ( ar, مُحافظة حماة / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Ḥamā'') is one of the 14 Governorates of Syria, governorates of Syria. It is situated in western-central Syria, bordering Idlib Governorate, Idlib and Aleppo Governorates ...
to the south, and
Latakia Governorate Latakia Governorate, also transliterated as Ladhakia Governorate, ( ar, مُحافظة اللاذقية / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat al-Lādhiqīyah'') is one of the 14 governorates of Syria. It is situated in western Syria, bordering Turkey's Hata ...
to the west. Reports of its area vary, depending on the source, from 5,933 km2 to 6,097 km2. The provincial capital is Idlib. In 2011, the governorate was taken over by Syrian rebel militias in the context of the Syrian civil war. In 2017, the governorate came under the nominal control of the Syrian Salvation Government, with
Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) (, transliteration: ', "Organization for the Liberation of the Levant" or "Levant Liberation Committee"), commonly referred to as Tahrir al-Sham, is a Sunni Islamist political and armed organisation involved in the ...
becoming the dominant militia in the region. The governorate saw intense fighting in the 2019 Northwestern Syria offensive and subsequent 2020 offensive, as Syrian government forces advanced deep into rebel territory; by 8 February, only a little more than half of the governorate's territory was reported to still be under rebel control. The remainder of rebel-held territory is dubbed by publications such as
Reuters Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters Corporation. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world. The agency was estab ...
, the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
and Agence France-Presse as Syria's "last rebel stronghold".


History


Archeological sites

* Al-Dana - site of ancient Adennu * Bara - ancient site *
Ebla Ebla ( Sumerian: ''eb₂-la'', ar, إبلا, modern: , Tell Mardikh) was one of the earliest kingdoms in Syria. Its remains constitute a tell located about southwest of Aleppo near the village of Mardikh. Ebla was an important center t ...
- Bronze Age site *
Serjilla Serjilla ( ar, سيرجيلة) is one of the best preserved of the Dead Cities in northwestern Syria, containing about 700 sites. It is located in the Jebel Riha, approximately 65 km north from Hama and 80 km southwest from Aleppo, v ...
- ancient site *
Tell Touqan Tell Touqan ( ar, تل طوقان, also spelled Tell Toqan or Tall Tukan) is a village in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located about 45 kilometers southwest of Aleppo. Nearby localities include Tell Sultan ...
- ancient site


Modern Syria (1946–2011)

Idlib Governorate was separated from the neighboring
Aleppo Governorate Aleppo Governorate ( ar, محافظة حلب / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Ḥalab'' / ) is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is the most populous governorate in Syria with a population of more than 4,867,000 (2011 Est.), almost 23% of t ...
on 17 November 1957, during the reign of President
Shukri al-Quwatli Shukri al-Quwatli ( ar, شكري القوّتلي, Shukrī al-Quwwatlī; 6 May 189130 June 1967) was the first president of post-independence Syria. He began his career as a dissident working towards the independence and unity of the Ottoman E ...
. In the early 1980s, the Idlib Governorate was one of the focal points of the
Islamist uprising in Syria The Islamist uprising in Syria comprised a series of revolts and armed insurgencies by Sunni Islamists, mainly members of the Muslim Brotherhood, from 1976 until 1982. The uprising was aimed against the secular Ba'ath Party-controlled governm ...
.
Jisr ash-Shugur Jisr ash-Shughūr ( ar, جِسْرُ ٱلشُّغُورِ, jisr aš-šuġūr, , also rendered as ''Jisser ash-Shughour'' and other spellings), known in antiquity as Seleucobelus ( el, Σελευκόβηλος, translit=Seleukóbēlos), is a city in ...
was the scene of a mass killing by Syrian security forces in 1980. On 9 March 1980, against a background of anti-government protests across Syria, inhabitants of Jisr ash-Shugur marched on the local Ba'ath Party headquarters and set it on fire. The police were unable to restore order and fled. Some demonstrators seized weapons and ammunition from a nearby army barracks. Later that day, units of the Syrian Army Special Forces were helicoptered in from Aleppo to regain control, which they did after pounding the town with rockets and mortars, destroying homes and shops and killing and wounding dozens of people. At least 200 people were arrested. The following day a military tribunal ordered the execution of more than a hundred of the detainees. In all, about 150–200 people were said to have been killed.


Syrian Civil War (2011–present)


Idlib contested by Syrian Government and rebels (2011–17)

The Idlib Governorate clashes (September 2011 – March 2012) were violent incidents involving the newly formed Free Syrian Army (FSA) and government-loyal forces, during which the FSA took control of
Saraqib Saraqib ( ar, سَرَاقِب, Sarāqib also spelled Saraqeb) is a city in northwestern Syria, administratively belonging to the Idlib Governorate, located east of Idlib. During the course of the Syrian Civil War, the city fell into rebel forces ...
, Binnish,
Sarmin Sarmin ( ar, سَرْمِين, Sarmīn also spelled Sarmeen) is a town in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located 15 kilometers southeast of Idlib. It has an altitude of about 390 meters. Nearby localities i ...
,
Ariha Ariha ( ar, أَرِيحَا, ʾArīḥā, also called Rīḥā, ) is a town in northern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located south of Idlib. Nearby localities include Urum al-Jawz to the southwest, Sarjah to the sout ...
,
Zardana Zardana ( ar, زردنا, also spelled Zerdana or Zirdana) is a village in northwestern Syria, administratively part of Idlib Governorate. The village lies in a relatively flat plain. Nearby localities include Taftanaz to the southeast, al-Fu'ah a ...
, al-Bara and
Taftanaz Taftanaz ( ar, تَفْتَنَاز, Taftanāz, also spelled Teftanaz) is a town in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located 17 kilometers northeast of Idlib. Nearby localities include Ta'um and Binnish to the sou ...
. This included the 10 March Battle of Idlib (2012), a government victory. This led to the
April 2012 Idlib Governorate Operation The April 2012 Idlib Governorate Operation was initiated by the Syrian Ba'athist government, in order to make gains against the rebels, prior to the implementation of the U.N. brokered ceasefire, planned for 10 April 2012. The ceasefire was off ...
in which the government unsuccessfully sought to regain control. A consequent cease-fire attempt lasted from 14 April to 2 June 2012. This was followed by the
Idlib Governorate clashes (June 2012–April 2013) The June 2012–April 2013 Idlib Governorate clashes was a series of clashes within the scope of the Syrian civil war, that took place in Syria's Idlib Governorate. The events followed the April 2012 Idlib Governorate Operation by the Syrian ...
, in which the FSA took or regained control of
Salqin Salqin ( ar, سَلْقِين, Salqīn) is a town in Syria, administratively part of Idlib Governorate. Nearby localities include Kafr Takharim to the southeast, Abu Talha to the south, Delbiya to the southwest, al-Alani to the northwest and Isqat ...
,
Armanaz Armanaz ( ar, أَرْمَنَاز, Armanāz) is a town in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Harem District, in the Idlib Governorate. It is located 20 kilometers northwest of Idlib near the Syrian- Turkish borders.Harem Harem (Persian: حرمسرا ''haramsarā'', ar, حَرِيمٌ ''ḥarīm'', "a sacred inviolable place; harem; female members of the family") refers to domestic spaces that are reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family. A hare ...
, Sarmin,
Darkush Darkush ( ar, دَرْكُوش, Darkūš; also spelled Darkoush or Derkush) is a town in northern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located northwest of Idlib along the Syrian– Turkish borders on the Orontes River. Nearby ...
,
Kafr Nabl Kafr Nabl ( ar, كَفْرنَبِل, Kafr Nabil, also spelled Kafranbel or Kafr Nabil) is a town administratively belonging to the Idlib Governorate and Ma'arrat al-Numan District in northwestern Syria. It is situated above sea level. In the 2 ...
,
Maarrat al-Nu'man , timezone = EET , utc_offset = +3 , timezone_DST = EEST , utc_offset_DST = +2 , blank_name = Climate , blank_info = BSk , coordinates= , e ...
and Taftanaz, while government forces maintained control over
Jisr ash-Shugur Jisr ash-Shughūr ( ar, جِسْرُ ٱلشُّغُورِ, jisr aš-šuġūr, , also rendered as ''Jisser ash-Shughour'' and other spellings), known in antiquity as Seleucobelus ( el, Σελευκόβηλος, translit=Seleukóbēlos), is a city in ...
, Fu'ah, Idlib city,
Abu al-Duhur Abu al-Duhur ( ar, أَبُو الظُّهُور; ''ʾAbū aẓ-Ẓuhūr'', also spelled Abu al-Thuhur) is a town in northwestern Syria on the edge of the Syrian Desert, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located about 45 kilometers s ...
airbase and
Khan Shaykhun Khan Shaykhun ( ar, خَان شَيْخُون, Ḵān Šayḵūn), sometimes spelled Khan Sheikhoun or Khan Shikhoun, is a town in the Maarrat al-Nu'man District, within the southern Idlib Governorate of northwestern Syria. Khan Shaykhun is locate ...
and recaptured Ariha. The Siege of Wadi Deif military base from October 2012 through April 2013 was also broken. The
2014 Idlib offensive The 2014 Idlib offensive was a series of operations conducted by the rebels against the Syrian Government in the Idlib Governorate during the Syrian Civil War. The clashes were mostly concentrated around Khan Shaykhun and on the highway towards ...
was a series of operations conducted by the rebels against the Syrian Government. The clashes were mostly concentrated around Khan Shaykhun and on the highway towards Maarrat al-Nu'man, and resulted in rebel victory. In the March
Battle of Idlib (2015) The Battle of Idlib ("Operation to Free Idlib") was a military operation in the Idlib Governorate, during the Syrian Civil War, conducted by rebels against Syrian government forces defending Idlib city. The battle On 24 March 2015, the newly ...
,
al-Nusra Front Al-Nusra Front or Jabhat al-Nusra ( ar, جبهة النصرة لأهل الشام, Jabhat an-Nuṣrah li-Ahl ish-Sham lit. ''Front of the Supporters of the People of Syria/the Levant''), known as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham ( ar, جبهة فتح ال ...
/ Army of Conquest-led rebels retook Idlib city from government and
Hezbollah Hezbollah (; ar, حزب الله ', , also transliterated Hizbullah or Hizballah, among others) is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group, led by its Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah since 1992. Hezbollah's parami ...
forces. In the Battle of Maarrat al-Nu'man (2016) on 13 March 2016, fighters from the Salafist jihadist groups al-Nusra Front and
Jund al-Aqsa Jund al-Aqsa ( ar, جند الأقصى ''Jund al-‘Aqṣā'', "Garrison of al-Aqsa"), later known as Liwa al-Aqsa after 7 February 2017, was a Salafist jihadist organization that was active during the Syrian Civil War. Formerly known as Sara ...
launched an overnight attack against the FSA's 13th Division headquarters in the town of Maarrat al-Nu'man to crush local protesters and demonstrations. The battle resulted in a victory for the jihadis. The
October 2016 Idlib Governorate clashes The October 2016 Idlib Governorate clashes are violent confrontations between the Salafist jihadist group Jund al-Aqsa and the Salafist Syrian rebel group the Ahrar al-Sham, supported by several other rebel groups. The two groups were previousl ...
were violent confrontations between Jund al-Aqsa and the Syrian rebel group the
Ahrar al-Sham Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya ( ar-at, حركة أحرار الشام الإسلامية, Ḥarakat Aḥrāru š-Šām al-Islāmiyah, lit=Islamic Movement of the Freemen of the Levant), commonly referred to as Ahrar al-Sham, is a coalition ...
, the latter supported by several other rebel groups. The
Idlib Governorate clashes (January–March 2017) The Idlib Governorate clashes (January–March 2017), were military confrontations between Syrian rebel factions led by Ahrar al-Sham and their allies on one side and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (later as Tahrir al-Sham) and ...
were military confrontations between Syrian rebel factions led by Ahrar al-Sham and their allies on one side and the Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (later as
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) (, transliteration: ', "Organization for the Liberation of the Levant" or "Levant Liberation Committee"), commonly referred to as Tahrir al-Sham, is a Sunni Islamist political and armed organisation involved in the ...
) and their allies on the other. After 7 February, the clashes also included Jund al-Aqsa as a third belligerent, which had re-branded itself as ''Liwa al-Aqsa'' and was attacking the other combatants. The battles were fought in the Idlib Governorate and the western countryside of the
Aleppo Governorate Aleppo Governorate ( ar, محافظة حلب / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Ḥalab'' / ) is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is the most populous governorate in Syria with a population of more than 4,867,000 (2011 Est.), almost 23% of t ...
. The
Khan Shaykhun chemical attack The Khan Shaykhun chemical attack took place on 4 April 2017 on the town of Khan Shaykhun in the Idlib Governorate of Syria. The town was reported to have been struck by an airstrike by government forces followed by massive civilian chemical ...
took place on 4 April 2017, on the town of Khan Shaykhun, then under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The town was struck by an
airstrike An airstrike, air strike or air raid is an offensive operation carried out by aircraft. Air strikes are delivered from aircraft such as blimps, balloons, fighters, heavy bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters and drones. The offic ...
by government forces, which was followed by massive civilian chemical poisoning. The release of a toxic gas, which included
sarin Sarin (NATO designation GB G-series, "B"">Nerve_agent#G-series.html" ;"title="hort for Nerve agent#G-series">G-series, "B" is an extremely toxic synthetic organophosphorus compound. killed at least 74 people and injured more than 557, according to the Idlib health authority. The attack was the deadliest use of chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war since the
Ghouta chemical attack The Ghouta chemical attack, was a chemical attack carried out by the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in the early hours of 21 August 2013 in Ghouta, Syria during the Syrian civil war. Two opposition-controlled areas in the su ...
in 2013. The
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
, the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Turkey,
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
, France, and Israel, as well as
Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international non-governmental organization, headquartered in New York City, that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. The group pressures governments, policy makers, companies, and individual human r ...
have attributed the attack to the forces of
Syrian President The president of Syria, officially the president of the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic: رئيس سوريا) is the head of state of the Syria, Syrian Arab Republic. They are vested with sweeping powers that may be delegated, at their sole discreti ...
Bashar al-Assad Bashar Hafez al-Assad, ', Levantine pronunciation: ; (, born 11 September 1965) is a Syrian politician who is the 19th president of Syria, since 17 July 2000. In addition, he is the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Armed Forces and the ...
. The
Assad government The Cabinet of Syria (Arabic: مجلس وزراء سوريا, majlis wuzara' suria) or Council of Ministers is the chief executive body of the Syrian Arab Republic. Cabinet in Constitution According to the Constitution of Syria: Appointment, p ...
denied using any chemical weapons in the air strike.


Predominance of rebels like HTS (2017–18)

The
Idlib Governorate clashes (July 2017) The Idlib Governorate clashes (July 2017) were a series of military confrontations between Ahrar al-Sham and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). During the clashes, Tahrir al-Sham attempted to capture the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing, causing concern for ...
were a series of military confrontations between Ahrar al-Sham and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. During the clashes, Tahrir al-Sham attempted to capture the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing. As a result of the clashes, HTS took control of Idlib city, the border crossing, and most of the areas along the Turkish border in the Idlib Province. Clashes resumed in July 2017. In September 2017, the Syrian government and its Russian allies intensified bombing raids against rebel-held towns in Idlib, with multiple casualties. Officially, the
campaign Campaign or The Campaign may refer to: Types of campaigns * Campaign, in agriculture, the period during which sugar beets are harvested and processed *Advertising campaign, a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme * Bl ...
to capture areas held by ISIL and the rebels began in October. A
Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate The Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate ( tr, İdlib Harekâtı), code-named Idlib De-escalation Control Force activities ( tr, İdlib Gerginliği Azaltma Kontrol Gücü faaliyetleri) by Turkey, is an operation by the Turkish Armed F ...
took place in October/November 2017. As of August 2018, following the end of the
Siege of al-Fu'ah and Kafriya The siege of al-Fu'ah and Kefriya was a siege of the towns of al-Fu'ah and Kafriya, towns with majority Shia populations and controlled by Syrian government forces in the Idlib Governorate, during the Syrian Civil War. The siege was initiated ...
, which had been government-held until July 2018, the governorate is almost entirely under the control of the Syrian rebels (primarily the National Front for Liberation, which has over 50,000 fighters) along with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, with estimated numbers of fighters between 12,000 and 30,000. In September 2018, a demilitarization zone was created on the front between the government and the Turkish-backed opposition, temporarily freezing the conflict.


Government on the rebound (2019–present)

On October 26, 2019, U.S.
Joint Special Operations Command The Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) is a joint component command of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and is charged with studying special operations requirements and techniques to ensure interoperability and equip ...
(JSOC) conducted a raid into the Idlib province of Syria on the border with Turkey that resulted in the death of Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai, also known as Abū Bakr al-Baghdadi. The raid was launched based on a
CIA The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian intelligence agency, foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gat ...
intelligence effort that located the leader of ISIS. This complex operation was conducted during the withdrawal of U.S. forces in northeast Syria, adding to the complexity. The Syrian Democratic Forces and the Iraqi military also supported the operation. Turkey stated that they coordinated with the US prior to the mission. A large portion of the governorate was retaken by government forces during the course of the 2019 offensive, which caused the displacement of nearly a million civilians, and subsequent 2020 offensive, which caused the death of over 1,000 civilians, often in aerial bombardments. As of March 2020 – if not sooner – the rebel control over Idlib Governorate is considered a matter of political survival of the Turkish President Erdoğan. If Idlib would fall back into the hands of the Syrian government, the next victims for the Syrian government would be the other Turkish-controlled zones in northern Syria which would imply the bankruptcy of Erdogan's war against Turkey's enemy the PKK. As the value of Syrian currency has plummeted, the
Turkish lira The lira ( tr, Türk lirası; sign: ₺; ISO 4217 code: TRY; abbreviation: TL) is the official currency of Turkey and Northern Cyprus. One lira is divided into one hundred ''kuruş''. History Ottoman lira (1844–1923) The lira, along with t ...
was adopted as legal tender in the governorate on 15 June 2020.


Geography

Parts of the westernmost regions of the governorate form part of the
Al-Ghab Plain The Ghab Plain ( ar, سَهْلُ ٱلْغَابِ, Sahl al-Ġāb, literally: Forest Plain) is a fertile depression lying mainly in the Al-Suqaylabiyah District in northwest Syria. The Orontes River, flowing north, enters the Plain near Muhradah, ...
, through which flows the
Orontes river The Orontes (; from Ancient Greek , ) or Asi ( ar, العاصي, , ; tr, Asi) is a river with a length of in Western Asia that begins in Lebanon, flowing northwards through Syria before entering the Mediterranean Sea near Samandağ in Turkey. ...
. The region forms a transitional zone between the forested mountains of the western littoral and the
Syrian desert The Syrian Desert ( ar, بادية الشام ''Bādiyat Ash-Shām''), also known as the North Arabian Desert, the Jordanian steppe, or the Badiya, is a region of desert, semi-desert and steppe covering of the Middle East, including parts of sou ...
to the east. The
Jabal Zawiya Mount Zāwiya ( ar, جبل الزاوية, Jabal az-Zāwiyah) or Mount Rīḥā ( ar, جبل ريحا, Jabal Rīḥā) (also in medieval times: Banī-ʻUlaym Mountain ( ar, جبل بني عليم, Jabal Banī-ʻUlaym) is a highland region in Idli ...
highland region lies in the south-central areas of the governorate.


Settlements

Idlib is the provincial capital; other major settlements include
Abu al-Duhur Abu al-Duhur ( ar, أَبُو الظُّهُور; ''ʾAbū aẓ-Ẓuhūr'', also spelled Abu al-Thuhur) is a town in northwestern Syria on the edge of the Syrian Desert, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located about 45 kilometers s ...
, Al Hamdaniyah,
Ariha Ariha ( ar, أَرِيحَا, ʾArīḥā, also called Rīḥā, ) is a town in northern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located south of Idlib. Nearby localities include Urum al-Jawz to the southwest, Sarjah to the sout ...
,
Harem Harem (Persian: حرمسرا ''haramsarā'', ar, حَرِيمٌ ''ḥarīm'', "a sacred inviolable place; harem; female members of the family") refers to domestic spaces that are reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family. A hare ...
,
Jisr al-Shughur Jisr ash-Shughūr ( ar, جِسْرُ ٱلشُّغُورِ, jisr aš-šuġūr, , also rendered as ''Jisser ash-Shughour'' and other spellings), known in antiquity as Seleucobelus ( el, Σελευκόβηλος, translit=Seleukóbēlos), is a city i ...
, Kafrsajna,
Khan Shaykhun Khan Shaykhun ( ar, خَان شَيْخُون, Ḵān Šayḵūn), sometimes spelled Khan Sheikhoun or Khan Shikhoun, is a town in the Maarrat al-Nu'man District, within the southern Idlib Governorate of northwestern Syria. Khan Shaykhun is locate ...
,
Ma'arrat al-Nu'man , timezone = EET , utc_offset = +3 , timezone_DST = EEST , utc_offset_DST = +2 , blank_name = Climate , blank_info = BSk , coordinates= , e ...
,
Salqin Salqin ( ar, سَلْقِين, Salqīn) is a town in Syria, administratively part of Idlib Governorate. Nearby localities include Kafr Takharim to the southeast, Abu Talha to the south, Delbiya to the southwest, al-Alani to the northwest and Isqat ...
,
Saraqib Saraqib ( ar, سَرَاقِب, Sarāqib also spelled Saraqeb) is a city in northwestern Syria, administratively belonging to the Idlib Governorate, located east of Idlib. During the course of the Syrian Civil War, the city fell into rebel forces ...
and
Taftanaz Taftanaz ( ar, تَفْتَنَاز, Taftanāz, also spelled Teftanaz) is a town in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located 17 kilometers northeast of Idlib. Nearby localities include Ta'um and Binnish to the sou ...
.


Districts

The governorate is divided into five
districts A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...
(
manatiq Minṭaqah ( ; plural ''manāṭiq'' ) is a first-level administrative division in Saudi Arabia and Chad and for a second-level administrative division in several other Arab countries. It is often translated as ''region'' or ''district'', but the ...
). The districts are further divided into 26 sub-districts ( nawahi): *
Idlib District Idlib District ( ar-at, منطقة ادلب, manṭiqat Idlib) is a district of the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria. The administrative centre is the city of Idlib. At the 2004 census, the district had a population of 382,929. Sub-distr ...
(7 sub-districts) **
Idlib Subdistrict Idlib Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية مركز إدلب) is a Syrian ''nahiyah'' (subdistrict) located in Idlib District Idlib District ( ar-at, منطقة ادلب, manṭiqat Idlib) is a district of the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria. ...
**
Abu al-Duhur Subdistrict Abu al-Duhur Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية أبو الظهور) is a Syrian ''nahiyah'' (subdistrict) located in Idlib District Idlib District ( ar-at, منطقة ادلب, manṭiqat Idlib) is a district of the Idlib Governorate in northweste ...
**
Binnish Subdistrict Binnish Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية بنش) is a Syrian ''Nahiyah'' (subdistrict) located in Idlib District in Idlib ar, إدلبي, Idlibi , coordinates = , elevation_m = 500 , area_code ...
**
Saraqib Subdistrict Saraqib Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية سراقب) is a Syrian ''nahiyah'' (subdistrict) located in Idlib District Idlib District ( ar-at, منطقة ادلب, manṭiqat Idlib) is a district of the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria. The ...
**
Taftanaz Subdistrict Taftanaz Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية تفتناز) is a Syrian ''nahiyah'' (subdistrict) located in Idlib District Idlib District ( ar-at, منطقة ادلب, manṭiqat Idlib) is a district of the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria. T ...
**
Maarrat Misrin Subdistrict Maarrat Misrin Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية معرة مصرين) is a Syrian ''nahiyah'' (subdistrict) located in Idlib District Idlib District ( ar-at, منطقة ادلب, manṭiqat Idlib) is a district of the Idlib Governorate in northwes ...
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Sarmin Subdistrict Sarmin Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية سرمين) is a Syrian ''nahiyah'' (subdistrict) located in Idlib District Idlib District ( ar-at, منطقة ادلب, manṭiqat Idlib) is a district of the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria. The a ...
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Arihah District Ariha District ( ar-at, منطقة أريحا, mantiqah, manṭiqat Arīh̨ā) is a Districts of Syria, district of the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria. Administrative centre is the city of Ariha, Syria, Ariha. At the 2004 census, the dist ...
(3 sub-districts) ** Ariha Subdistrict ** Ihsim Subdistrict ** Muhambal Subdistrict *
Harem District Harem District ( ar-at, منطقة حارم, manṭiqat Ḥārim) is a district of the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria. The administrative centre is the city of Harem Harem (Persian: حرمسرا ''haramsarā'', ar, حَرِيمٌ ...
(6 sub-districts) ** Harem Subdistrict ** Al-Dana Subdistrict ** Salqin Subdistrict ** Kafr Takharim Subdistrict ** Qurqania Subdistrict ** Armanaz Subdistrict *
Jisr al-Shughur District Jisr ash-Shugur District ( ar-at, منطقة جسر الشغور, manṭiqat Ǧisr aš-Šuġūr) is a district of the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria. Administrative centre is the city of Jisr ash-Shugur. At the 2004 census, the distri ...
(4 sub-districts) **
Jisr al-Shughur Subdistrict Jisr al-Shughur Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية مركز جسر الشغور) is a Syrian ''nahiyah'' (subdistrict) located in Jisr al-Shughur District in Idlib ar, إدلبي, Idlibi , coordinates = , elevation_m ...
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Bidama Subdistrict Bidama Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية بداما) is a Syrian ''nahiyah'' (subdistrict) located in Jisr al-Shughur District in Idlib ar, إدلبي, Idlibi , coordinates = , elevation_m = 500 , area_co ...
** Darkush Subdistrict ** Al-Janudiyah Subdistrict *
Ma'arrat al-Numan District Maarat al-Numaan District ( ar-at, منطقة معرة النعمان, mantiqah, manṭiqat Maʿarrat al-Nuʿmān) is a Districts of Syria, district of the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria. The administrative centre is the city of Maarat al ...
(6 sub-districts) **
Ma'arrat al-Nu'man Subdistrict Maarrat al-Numan Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية مركز معرة النعمان) is a Syrian ''nahiyah'' (subdistrict) located in Maarat al-Numan District Maarat al-Numaan District ( ar-at, منطقة معرة النعمان, mantiqah, manṭiqa ...
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Khan Shaykhun Subdistrict Khan Shaykhun Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية خان شيخون) is a Syrian ''nahiyah A nāḥiyah ( ar, , plural ''nawāḥī'' ), also nahiya or nahia, is a regional or local type of administrative division that usually consists of a number ...
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Sinjar Subdistrict Sinjar Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية سنجار) is a Syrian ''nahiyah A nāḥiyah ( ar, , plural ''nawāḥī'' ), also nahiya or nahia, is a regional or local type of administrative division that usually consists of a number of villages o ...
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Kafr Nabl Subdistrict Kafr Nabl Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية كفرنبل) is a Syrian ''nahiyah A nāḥiyah ( ar, , plural ''nawāḥī'' ), also nahiya or nahia, is a regional or local type of administrative division that usually consists of a number of villag ...
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Al-Tamanah Subdistrict Al-Taman'ah Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية التمانعة) is a Syrian ''nahiyah A nāḥiyah ( ar, , plural ''nawāḥī'' ), also nahiya or nahia, is a regional or local type of administrative division that usually consists of a number of ...
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Hish Subdistrict Hish Subdistrict ( ar, ناحية حيش) is a Syrian ''nahiyah A nāḥiyah ( ar, , plural ''nawāḥī'' ), also nahiya or nahia, is a regional or local type of administrative division that usually consists of a number of villages or some ...


Demographics

As per the 2004 Syrian census the population was 1,258,400. A 2011
UNOCHA The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is a United Nations (UN) body established in December 1991 by the General Assembly to strengthen the international response to complex emergencies and natural disaste ...
estimate put the population at 1,501,000, though this has likely changed since the start of the war. The inhabitants are mostly
Sunni Muslim Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word ''Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagree ...
s,Mroue, Bassem
"Syrian forces capture rebel stronghold near Turkey"
. ''
The Salt Lake Tribune ''The Salt Lake Tribune'' is a newspaper published in the city of Salt Lake City, Utah. The ''Tribune'' is owned by The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The newspaper's motto is "Utah's Independent Voice Since 1871." History ...
''.
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...
. 2012-03-13. Retrieved on 2012-03-13.
although there is a significant Christian minority.


Gallery

File:Idlib_governorate_map.png, Map of Idlib governorate File:Ebla - DecArch - 2-124.jpg, Ruins of Ebla File:Great Mosque of Ma'arrat al-Numan 01.jpg, The Great Mosque of Maarrat al-Numan File:Salquin,minaret.jpg, Salqin File:Byzantine temple in Idlib (Ruweiha) Syria.jpg, Byzantine temple in Idlib File:Sejilla-ruins.jpg, Ruins of Serjilla


References

{{Authority control Governorates of Syria Syria–Turkey border