Idlib
| Idlib ادلب Edlib |
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 Idlib
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| Coordinates: 35°56′N 36°38′E / 35.933°N 36.633°E | |
| Country |  Syria |
| Governorate | Idlib Governorate |
| District | Idlib District |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Atef Ghanem al-Naddaf |
| Elevation | 500 m (1,600 ft) |
| Population (2004 census[1]) | |
| • City | 98,791 |
| • Metro | 126,284 |
| Area code(s) | 23 |
| Website | eIdleb |
Idlib (Arabic: ادلب, also spelled Edlib or Idleb) is a city in northwestern Syria, capital of the Idlib Governorate, and 59 kilometers (37 mi) west of Aleppo. It has an elevation of nearly 500 meters (1,600 ft) above sea level. In the 2004 census by the Central Bureau of Statistics, Idlib had a population of 98,791 (2004 census). The inhabitants are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslims,[2] although there is a significant Christian minority. Idlib is divided into six main districts: Ashrafiyeh (the most populous), Hittin, Hejaz, Downtown, Hurriya, and al-Qusur.
A major agricultural center of Syria, the Idlib area is also historically significant, containing many "dead cities" and man-made tells. Idlib contains the ancient city of Ebla, once the capital of a powerful kingdom.[3] (See Ibrium)
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History [edit]
Ottoman era [edit]
During the Ottoman Empire era of rule in Syria between the 16th and 19th centuries, Idlib served as the capital of a kada ("subdistrict capital") bearing its name, part of the larger Vilayet of Aleppo ("Province of Aleppo.")[4] The city was a center of olive production which in turn gave way to a prosperous olive-based soap industry. Although the major markets for Idlib's soap were at Aleppo, Antioch and Hama,[5] the product was exported as far as the Ottoman capital of Istanbul. Idlib was also a major producer of cotton fabrics.[6] Western traveler Josias Leslie Porter noted that Idlib was "encompassed in olive groves, rare in this bleak region." He further remarked that its olives groves were larger than those of Damascus, Beirut or Gaza. In the mid-19th-century the town had an estimated population of 8,000, including 500 Christians.[5] In the late 19th-century, Idlib was "flourishing" and contained a number of Christian families according to German writers working for Karl Baedeker.[4]
Syrian civil war [edit]
Idlib has been an opposition stronghold during the Syrian civil war against the government of Bashar al-Assad. In January 2012, the BBC reported that over 250 people had been killed on 19–20 December 2011 by Syrian armed forces.[7]
The city and nearby towns have been targeted for hosting large numbers of armed groups such as the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and other opponents of the government.[8] Beginning in March, the Syrian armed forces began shelling parts of Idlib and nearby towns in an attempt to clear the area of FSA fighters.[9] On 13 March, the Syrian army captured the city after a three-day operation.[2] Local reports indicated between 16 and 45 people, including children, were killed in the government assault against the FSA in Idlib.[9] Between 11-15 March, 114 people were reported killed in Idlib according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).[10]
On 30 April 2012, many security buildings in the centre of Idlib became the target of several car bombs placed by anti-government groups, causing the death of 8 people and more than a hundred injured civilians.[11]
Economy [edit]
Idlib is a major production center for olives, cotton, wheat and fruits, particularly cherries.[3] Other principal crops include almonds, sesame seeds, figs, grapes and tomatoes.[12] In 1995 there were roughly 300 hectares planted with various citrus crop.[13] Olive oil pressing and textiles are some of the city's local industries.[12] The nearby city of Aleppo has an important economic presence in Idlib.[3]
The Idlib Regional Museum in the city contains over 17,000 of the Ebla tablets and serves as Idlib's main tourist attraction, excluding the nearby ancient site of Ebla itself. Under the Technical and Financial Cooperation Agreement between the governments of Italy and Syria, the museum was to undergo a restoration and renovation project starting in 2010.[14]
Sports [edit]
Omayya Idlib, founded in 1972, is the most popular football team in the city. The club played in the Syrian Premier League for the 2011-2012 season. Idlib Municipal Stadium is the main football venue in the city.
Gallery [edit]
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Coordinates: 35°56′N 36°38′E / 35.933°N 36.633°E
References [edit]
- ^ Idlib city population
- ^ a b Mroue, Bassem. "Syrian forces capture rebel stronghold near Turkey". The Salt Lake Tribune. Associated Press. 2012-03-13. Retrieved on 2012-03-13.
- ^ a b c Casule, 2008, p.56.
- ^ a b Baedeker, 1912, p.376.
- ^ a b Porter, 1868, p. 580.
- ^ Inalcik, 1997, p.501.
- ^ "Syria unrest: Jabal al-Zawiya 'massacres'". BBC News. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
- ^ Cave, Peter. Syrians fear mass attack imminent in Idlib. ABC News. 2012-03-09.
- ^ a b "'Massacre' in Homs as Syria attacks intensify". Al Jazeera. 2012-03-12.
- ^ Syria: Aid groups mark year of protest with unity call. BBC News. 2012-03-15. Retrieved on 2012-03-15.
- ^ Idlib shaken by car bombs
- ^ a b Idlib, Syria. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. 2012. Retrieved on 2012-03-11.
- ^ Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1996, p. 147.
- ^ Ferrari, 2009, p. 522.
Bibliography [edit]
- Baedeker, Karl (1912), Palestine and Syria, with routes through Mesopotamia and Babylonia and the island of Cyprus: handbook for travellers, K. Baedeker
- Casule, F. (2008), Art and History Syria, Casa Editrice Bonechi, ISBN 8847601193
- Angelo, Ferrari (2009), Proceedings 4th International Congress on “Science and Technology for the Safeguard of Cultural Heritage in the Mediterranean Basin” 1, Angelo Ferrari-CNR, Institute of Chemical Methodologies, ISBN 889668031X
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (1996). Citrus Pest Problems and Their Control in the Near East. Food & Agriculture Org. ISBN 9251033013.
- Inalcik, Halil (1997), An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0521574552
- Porter, Josias Leslie (1858). A Handbook for Travellers in Syria and Palestine 1. Murray.
External links [edit]
News and Events [edit]
- eIdleb The first complete website for Idleb news and services.
- www.edleb.net The 1st. complete website in Arabic.
Governmental Services [edit]
- E.sy The First Complete Governmental Online Services
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