 | This article appears to be slanted towards recent events. (April 2023) |
Idlib Governorate
مُحافظة ادلب | |
|---|---|
 | |
.svg) Map of Syria with Idlib highlighted | |
| Coordinates (Idlib): 35°42′N 36°42′E / 35.7°N 36.7°E | |
| Country |  Syria |
| Capital | Idlib (rebel control) Khan Shaykhun (Syrian Arab Republic governor's seat) |
| Manatiq (Districts) | 5 |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Thaer Nasih Salhab[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 6,097 km2 (2,354 sq mi) |
| Estimates range between 5,933 km2 and 6,097 km2 | |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 1,501,000 |
| • Density | 250/km2 (640/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | SY-ID |
| Main language(s) | Arabic |
Idlib Governorate (Arabic: مُحافظة ادلب / ALA-LC: Muḥāfaẓat Idlib) is one of the 14 governorates of Syria. It is situated in northwestern Syria, bordering Turkey's Hatay province to the north, Aleppo Governorate to the east, Hama Governorate to the south, and Latakia Governorate to the west. Reports of its area vary, depending on the source, from 5,933 km2[2] to 6,097 km2.[3] 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 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.[4] The remainder of rebel-held territory is dubbed by publications such as Reuters, the BBC and Agence France-Presse as Syria's "last rebel stronghold".[5][6][7]
- ^ "President al-Assad issues decrees appointing new governors for four Syrian provinces". SANA. 2021-11-17. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ "Syria Provinces". www.statoids.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-13. Retrieved 2006-10-14.
- ^ "Syria: Governorates, Major Cities & Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". Archived from the original on 2015-09-07. Retrieved 2006-10-14.
- ^ "Syria army takes Idlib crossroads town despite Turkish warnings". AFP.com. 16 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
- ^ "Russia holds key to Idlib's fate as Syrian army advances". Reuters. 2020-02-07. Archived from the original on 2020-02-08. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
- ^ "Syrian army 'recaptures' key town from opposition". BBC News. 2020-01-29. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
- ^ "Syria army takes Idlib crossroads town despite Turkish warnings". AFP.com. 16 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2020-02-08.