Damascus

Damascus experienced tremendous growth during the second half of the 20th century, with its population estimated to have increased more than tenfold. The city’s growth rate is higher than that of the country as a whole, owing mainly to steady migration from rural areas. So heavy has been the influx of young migrants drawn by employment and educational opportunities that the average age of Damascenes has dropped below that of the national level. Among the religious minorities, the al-mukhābarāt). Other religious and ethnic groups, principally the see Economy Manufacturing, finance, and other services Government is Damascus’s most important economic activity. National politics and administration, including large military and secret services establishments, are centred there. Well-known over the centuries for luxurious manufactured wares, especially textiles, the growing city has attracted many new industries since the mid-20th century. All major factories and most strategic industries are state-run, but the private sector began in the 1990s to The historical role of Damascus as a “desert port” has changed because of political developments and the scale of modern commerce. Most imports come through Syria’s own ports of Transportation Damascus’s traffic problems are relatively few and are largely resolvable. Damascus is adequately connected to its surrounding regions; major highways fan out in all directions, connecting Damascus with such cities as Damascus International Airpo...

By Reuters: An Israeli air strike targeting Syria's capital Damascus left one Syrian soldier with "serious injuries and caused some material damage," state news agency SANA reported early on Wednesday citing a military source. Syrian air defences intercepted missiles Israel launched at 1:05 am (local time) from the Golan Heights and "shot down some of them," the source said. Israel has for years been carrying out attacks against what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran's influence has grown since it began supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that started in 2011. ALSO READ |

An Israeli air attack on Syria’s capital Damascus has left one Syrian soldier with “serious injuries and caused some material damage”, the State news agency SANA has reported. Syrian air defences engaged Israel missiles that were launched at 1:05 am on Wednesday (22:05 GMT) morning from the Golan Heights and “shot down some of them”, according to a military source cited by SANA. Advertisement “The Israeli enemy carried out an aerial aggression from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights targeting several positions southwest of Damascus,” SANA reported. The military source did not provide details on the targets of the attack, saying only that the attack “severely wounded” a soldier and caused material damage. Advertisement The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitor that relies on a vast network of sources on the ground in Syria, said the Israeli missile attack was aimed at “arms depots belonging to pro-Iran fighters, and caused a fire”. In the twelve months up to April, Israeli attacks on Syria had killed at least 44 people and injured more than 50.(Al Jazeera) Israel has for years carried out hundreds of attacks against what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria. Though Israel rarely comments on its attacks inside Syria, it has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran to extend its military influence into Syrian territory. By: With just weeks to go before junior doctors in Gauteng are due to start their community service, hundreds of their pe...

The Omayyad Mosque is the fourth holiest sites in all of Islam and is located in the Old City of Damascus and is also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus. It is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world as it was built between 705 and 715 AD. The site for the Omayyad Mosque was originally an Aramaean temple, then a Roman Temple of Jupiter and then later as the Basilica of St. John the Baptist. The caliph Al-Walid confiscated the basilica in 705 and had the Great Mosque erected on the site. When we visited the mosque last week it was a real pleasure as I had taken my two eldest grandsons to the mosque to pray and visit the sights within the mosque. There is a special Tourist Entrance when women can receive a proper cover and you must buy an entrance ticket. You must take off your shoes at the entrance. You can store your shoes in a small reception desk just inside the main mosque. There is a shrine within the main hall which is said to contain the head of John the Baptist and he is called in Arabic Prophet Yahya. While just outside the Mosque is a shrine for the very famous Arab sultans and commander, Saladin. His most important fame was when he recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders. The Omayyad Mosque has three tall minarets all of different shapes and heights. Each has an interesting story. I especially like the architecture and story behind the Minaret of the Bride. The names of the other two minarets are: Minaret of Isa and the Minaret of Qaitbey. Inside th...

June 14 (Reuters) - (This June 14 story has been corrected to clarify that the missiles were targeting sites around Damascus and not Damascus itself, in the headline and paragraph 1) An Israeli air strike targeting sites around Syria's Damascus left one Syrian soldier with "serious injuries and caused some material damage," state news agency SANA reported early on Wednesday citing a military source. Syrian air defences intercepted missiles Israel launched at 1:05 a.m. from the Golan Heights and "shot down some of them," the source said. Israel has for years been carrying out attacks against what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran's influence has grown since it began supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that started in 2011.