Kafr Laha () is a town in the
Homs Governorate
Homs Governorate ( / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Ḥimṣ'') is one of the fourteen Governorates of Syria, governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is situated in central Syria. Its geography differs in various locations in the governorate, from to . ...
north of
Homs
Homs ( ; ), known in pre-Islamic times as Emesa ( ; ), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is Metres above sea level, above sea level and is located north of Damascus. Located on the Orontes River, Homs is ...
in northern
Syria
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
. In 2004 it had a population of 20,041 according to the
Central Bureau of Statistics of Syria. Its inhabitants are predominantly
Sunni Muslim
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Musli ...
s. It is the largest town in the
Houla region. Nearby localities include
Tallaf to the northeast,
Tell Dahab to the north,
Aqrab to the northwest,
Qarmas and
Maryamin to the west,
al-Taybah al-Gharbiyah to the southwest and
Taldou to the southeast.
History
Kafr Laha has been identified as the ancient
Aramaean settlement of Byt'l also known as "Bethel".
According to 16th century Ottoman Defter records, Kafr Laha's population increased from 23 households in 1526 to 47 households in 1594.
Kafr Laha has been the site of demonstrations against the
Assad government during the
Syrian uprising which began in 2011.
References
Bibliography
*
Populated places in Homs District
{{HomsSY-geo-stub