Why in News?
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a rebel militia, recently seized Aleppo, the 2nd largest city in Syria.
Political Features:
- Location: East coast of the Mediterranean Sea in southwestern Asia.
- Boundaries:
- Turkey (North)
- Iraq (East & Southeast)
- Jordan (South)
- Israel and Lebanon (Southwest)
- Capital: Damascus
- Golan Heights: Seized by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War.
Geographical Features:
- Climate: Largely Mediterranean climate.
- Mountain Ranges:
- Anti-Lebanon (separating Syria & Lebanon)
- Al-Ansariyyah
- Highest Point: Mount Hermon
- Major Rivers: Euphrates, Tigris, Orontes