35°00′00″N 38°00′00″E / 35.0000°N 38.0000°E / 35.0000; 38.0000
111-464: [REDACTED] Asia portal The Second Syrian Republic , officially the Syrian Republic from 1950 to 1958 and the Syrian Arab Republic from 1961 to 1963, succeeded the First Syrian Republic that had become de facto independent in April 1946 from the French Mandate . The Second Republic was founded on the Syrian Constitution of 1950 , which was suspended from 1953 to 1954 under Adib Shishakli 's strongmanship, and later when Syria joined with
222-729: A sixty-day strike in protest. Atassi's political coalition, the National Bloc , mobilized massive popular support for his call. Riots and demonstrations raged, and the economy came to a standstill. After negotiations in March with Damien de Martel , the French High Commissioner in Syria, Hashim al-Atassi went to Paris heading a senior Bloc delegation. The new Popular Front -led French government, formed in June 1936 after
333-701: A brief control of the Genoese fleet in 1101, the city was taken in 1103 by forces under the command of Tancred of Hauteville , a veteran of the First Crusade and acting regent of the Principality of Antioch . Following the defeat of Antiochene forces at the Battle of Harran in 1104, the city was reoccupied by the Byzantines led by Admiral Cantacuzenus , however they would again lose the city. Despite
444-702: A caliphate general, named 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit during the Muslim conquest of Syria in the 7th century. The city was renamed al-Lādhiqīyah (اللَّاذِقِيَّة) and switched rule from the Rashidun Caliphate , to the Umayyad Caliphate and finally to the Abbasid Caliphate in a span of 9 centuries, attached to the large province of Bilad Al-Sham (Greater Syria). Arab geographer, Al-Muqaddasi (d. 991), mentions al-Lādhiqīyah as belonging to
555-672: A change of direction regarding the Syrian question, and contrary to the general amnesty, the French arrested the three national government ministers in September 1926 and exiled them to Lebanon. The French High Commissioner began a series of discussions in Beirut with the main Syrian national leaders Hashim al-Atassi and Ibrahim Hananu on the future constitution, which failed to reach any agreement. On 15 February 1928, Ahmed Nami resigned, and
666-653: A complete halt to Jewish ambition in Palestine . France and the United States opposed British hegemony in the region, which eventually led to the creation of Israel. On 27 September 1941, Free France proclaimed, by virtue of, and within the framework of the Mandate, the independence and sovereignty of the Syrian State. The proclamation said "the independence and sovereignty of Syria and Lebanon will not affect
777-467: A complete halt to Jewish ambition in Palestine. France and the United States opposed British hegemony in the region, which eventually led to the creation of Israel. On 27 September 1941, France proclaimed, by virtue of, and within the framework of the Mandate, the independence and sovereignty of the Syrian State. The proclamation said "the independence and sovereignty of Syria and Lebanon will not affect
888-461: A considerable distance from Lāŏdĭcḗa, sloping up gently and gradually from it, they tower above Apameia, extending up to a perpendicular height. Pompey the Great conquered the city along with most of Syria in the 1st century BC, and Julius Caesar declared the city a "free polis." The Roman emperor Septimius Severus rewarded the city with the title of "Metropolis" in the 2nd century AD, exempted it of
999-511: A consul in Latakia, due to the trade of cotton and silk from Persia. The city which was in despair was rebuilt after a visit by Qaitbay in 1477. An Alawite community was first established in Latakia by the missionary Abu Sa'id al-Tabarani (d. 1034) in the early 11th century. From then on it spread northward and into the coastal mountain range. Latakia came under the Ottoman control after
1110-491: A fear of being outflanked by it if France relinquished its colonies in the Middle East. That, coupled with lingering imperialist inclinations in some levels of the French government, led France to reconsider its promises and refuse to ratify the treaty. Riots again broke out, Atassi resigned, and Syrian independence was deferred until after World War II . With the fall of France in 1940 during World War II, Syria came under
1221-440: A government consisting of six ministers, three of whom were nationalists, and it was agreed with the French High Commissioner on the government's work agenda made known the ten points, the most important points were: The three governments which were formed by Ahmed Nami between May 1926 and February 1928 were unable to fulfill their agenda. High commissioner Henri de Jouvenel ’s replacement by Henri Ponsot in September 1926 with
SECTION 10
#17327733636531332-415: A maximum length of 25 meters and 4 meters draught. The Syrian Navy has one of four bases in Latakia. Latakia has an extensive agricultural hinterland. Exports include bitumen ( asphalt ), cereals, cotton , fruits, eggs, vegetable oil, pottery, and tobacco . Cotton ginning, vegetable-oil processing, tanning, and sponge fishing serve as local industries for the city. The Cote d'Azur Beach of Latakia
1443-520: A more violent crackdown was coming. Protests continued despite the increased security presence and arrests. Several civilians were allegedly killed in confrontations with security officers during this early period of the siege. On 13 August 2011, the Syrian Army and Syrian Navy launched an operation where more than 20 tanks and APCs rolled into the Alawi stronghold. The city was also attacked by
1554-536: A new constitution was discussed by a Constituent Assembly elected in April 1928, but as the pro-independence National Bloc had won a majority and insisted on the insertion of several articles "that did not preserve the prerogatives of the mandatary power". The Constituent Assembly convened on 9 May 1928, at the Government Premises, and unanimously elected Mr. Hashem al-Atassi as its president, and after
1665-463: A new tin be opened and an egg cooked before him. The fat once more gave off a nauseating smell: the President tasted it and pronounced it of inferior quality. Samples were sent for testing and revealed that the fat was made from bone waste". Afterwards, Quwatli ordered the arrest of colonel for profiteering. Following this incident, officers became enraged when the common folk held their noses at them,
1776-611: A pact with the Soviet Union , providing a foothold for Communist influence within the government in exchange for planes, tanks, and other military equipment being sent to Syria. This increase in the strength of Syrian military technology worried Turkey , as it seemed feasible that Syria might attempt to retake Iskenderon , a formerly Syrian city now in Turkey. On the other hand, Syria and the USSR accused Turkey of massing its troops at
1887-628: A partial military withdrawal from Syria, but with continuing Russian presence, as the Khmeimim airbase and the Russian naval facility in Tartus would still be operated by Russian forces. On 7 December 2021, Israeli warplanes launched an airstrike attack on Latakia's port, damaging the port's facilities and setting several containers on fire. On December 28, the port was attacked again after Israeli forces launched several precision missiles targeting
1998-495: A population of 6,354 Palestinian refugees , mostly from Jaffa and the Galilee . The Port of Latakia is the main seaport in Syria. It was established on 12 February 1950, and has boosted the city's importance ever since. The port's imported cargo includes clothing, construction materials, vehicles, furniture, minerals, tobacco, cotton, and food supplies such as lintels, onions, wheat, barley, dates, grains and figs, and in 2008,
2109-478: A reference to the smell of the cooking fat. On 14 August 1949, Zaim was overthrown by his colleague Sami al-Hinnawi . A few months later, in December 1949, Hinnawi was overthrown by Colonel Adib al-Shishakli . The latter undermined civilian rule and led to Shishakli's complete seizure of power in 1951. Shishakli continued to rule the country until 1954, when growing public opposition forced him to resign and leave
2220-619: A reward of 100,000 francs for information on his whereabouts. After the French gave up trying to capturing Shaykh Saleh, a pardon was issued by General Henri Gouraud . The state became part of the Syrian Federation in 1922, but it left the federation again in 1924. In 1930, the Alawite State was renamed as the Government of Latakia, the only concession by the French to Arab nationalists until 1936. On 3 December 1936, it
2331-518: A significant minority. The city itself, however, contained significant numbers of Sunni and Christian inhabitants. The landlords in the countryside tended to be Sunni and Orthodox Christians, while the peasants were mostly Alawi. Like the Druzes , who also had a special status before the end of World War I, the Alawis had a strained relationship with the Ottoman overlords. In fact, they were not even given
SECTION 20
#17327733636532442-550: A similar treaty in November. The treaty also promised curtailment of French intervention in Syrian domestic affairs as well as a reduction of French troops, personnel and military bases in Syria. In return, Syria pledged to support France in times of war, including the use of its air space , and to allow France to maintain two military bases on Syrian territory. Other political, economic and cultural provisions were included. Atassi returned to Syria in triumph on 27 September 1936 and
2553-539: A sizable Antiochian Greek population exists in Latakia, and their diocese in the city has the largest congregation of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch . There is also an Armenian community of 3,500 in the city. The entire population speaks Arabic, mostly in the North Levantine dialect. Within the city boundaries is the "unofficial" Latakia camp , established in 1956, which has
2664-602: A sovereign republic, with full emancipation granted gradually over a 25-year period. In 1936, the Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence was signed, a treaty that would not be ratified by the French legislature. However, the treaty allowed Jabal Druze, the Alawite region (now called Latakia ), and Alexandretta to be incorporated into the Syrian Republic within the following two years. Greater Lebanon (now
2775-653: A treaty in 1108 with Bohemond promising to return Latakia to the Byzantine Empire by 1110 it was firmly under the control of the Principality of Antioch, as it was called "La Liche". In 1126, the cities of Latakia and Jabala were the dowry of Princess Alice , daughter of King Baldwin II of Jerusalem , who later donated a house in Latakia to the Knights Hospitaller , which became their main base in
2886-496: A treaty that would not be ratified by the French legislature. However, the treaty allowed Jabal Druze, the Alawite region (now called Latakia ), and Alexandretta to be incorporated into the Syrian republic within the following two years. Greater Lebanon (now the Lebanese Republic) was the only state that did not join the Syrian Republic. Hashim al-Atassi, who was Prime Minister during King Faisal's brief reign (1918–1920),
2997-544: Is the 5th-largest city in Syria after Aleppo , Damascus , Homs and Hama . Cape Apostolos Andreas , the north-eastern tip of Cyprus , is about 109 kilometres (68 mi) away. Although the site of the city has been inhabited since the 2nd millennium BC, the city was founded in the 4th century BC under the rule of the Seleucid Empire . Latakia was subsequently ruled by the Romans and Byzantines , followed by
3108-555: The Abbasid Caliphate from 750 to 968. The famous poet Al-Mutanabbi led a millenarian revolt at Latakia in 930. The Byzantine Empire recaptured the city in 970 by John I Tzimiskes , but it was lost to the Fatimids in 980. The Banu Munqidh managed to control the city until they were succeeded by the Seljuks during the reign of Malik-Shah I in 1086, despite a brief Byzantine control in 1074. Later on, Guynemer of Boulogne raided
3219-524: The April–May elections , had agreed to recognize the National Bloc as the sole legitimate representatives of the Syrian people and invited al-Atassi to independence negotiations. The resulting treaty called for immediate recognition of Syrian independence as a sovereign republic, with full emancipation granted gradually over a 25-year period. In 1936, the Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence was signed,
3330-579: The Arab-Israeli War . An example of this shame can be seen in what we will call the Samneh Scandal of 1948. According to Patrick Seale , "President Shukri al-Quwatli and his new Prime Minister set off on a tour of front-line positions and supply points. The story has it that the two politicians noticed a pungent smell coming from a field kitchen. On making inquiries they were told that it came from burning cooking fat. Quwatli demanded that
3441-531: The Azm family of governors established several new foundations in the city. The British, French and Spanish established consulates in the city, so that by mid-century Latakia was serving as co-capital of the entire province ( eyalet ) of Tripoli, Lebanon . In 1824, the Ottomans named Muhammad Paşa ibn Alman, a native of the area who was suspected of being an Alawite and a French sympathizer, governor of Latakia. He
Second Syrian Republic - Misplaced Pages Continue
3552-481: The Battle of Marj Dabiq in 1516. It had a population of about 1400–1700 in the 16th century. From the late 17th century onward it was ruled by the Ibn al-Matarji family, some of whose members would go on to become governors of Damascus Eyalet . Under their leadership, and the development of the tobacco industry in the same period, the town developed rapidly in the 18th century. Several churches were rebuilt or restored and
3663-609: The French Lattaquié and English Latakia (or Lattakia) derive. To the Ottomans, it was known as Lazkiye. The location of Latakia, the Ras Ziyarah promontory , has a long history of occupation. The Phoenician city of Ramitha was located here. Stephanus of Byzantium writes that the city was named Ramitha ( Ancient Greek : Ῥάμιθα ), then Leukê Aktê ("white coast") ( Ancient Greek : Λευκὴ ἀκτή ) and later Laodicea ( Ancient Greek : Λαοδίκεια ). The city
3774-641: The Latakia Governorate located on the Mediterranean coast. Historically, it has also been known as Laodicea in Syria or Laodicea ad Mare . In addition to serving as a port, the city is a significant manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages. According to 2023 estimate, the population of the city is 709,000, its population greatly increased as a result of the ongoing Syrian Civil War , which led to an influx of internally displaced persons from rebel held areas. It
3885-500: The Latakia Sports City , a sports complex designed specifically to host the games. The Latakia Sports City Stadium served as the main venue for the games. In 1994, the city's population reached 303,000, with that number significantly rising to 383,786 by 2004. Although population assessment in recent years has become difficult due to the ongoing civil war, the city's population is estimated to have risen drastically in
3996-495: The Lebanese Republic ) was the only state that did not join the Syrian Republic. Hashim al-Atassi, who was Prime Minister during King Faisal 's brief reign (1918–1920), was the first president to be elected under a new constitution adopted after the independence treaty. The treaty guaranteed incorporation of previously autonomous Druze and Alawite regions into Greater Syria , but not Lebanon , with which France signed
4107-674: The Rashiduns , Ummayads and Abbasids during the 7th–10th centuries AD. Byzantine ruling groups frequently attacked the city, periodically recapturing it before losing it again to Arab powers, particularly the Fatimids . Afterward, Latakia was ruled successively by the Seljuk Turks , Crusaders , Ayyubids , Mamluks , and the Ottomans . Following World War I , Latakia was assigned to the French mandate of Syria , in which it served as
4218-711: The Republic of Egypt in forming the United Arab Republic in 1958. The Second Republic resumed when Syria withdrew from the union in 1961. In 1963, the Syrian Ba'athist Party came to power in a bloodless military coup , which laid the foundations for the political structure in Syria to the present day. The green, white, black and red flag is the first flag of the Syrian Arab Republic and with
4329-608: The Vichy Government until the British and Free French invaded and occupied the country in July 1941. Syria proclaimed its independence again in 1941 but it wasn't until 1 January 1944, that it was recognized as an independent republic. In the 1940s, Britain secretly advocated the creation of a Greater Syrian state that would secure Britain preferential status in military, economic and cultural matters, in return for putting
4440-588: The 2010s due to the influx of refugees from the cities of Aleppo, Idlib and other cities which have been affected by the ongoing war. During the Syrian Civil War, Latakia had been a site of protest activity since March 2011. The Syrian government claimed 12 were killed there in clashes in late March, leading to the deployment of the military to restrict movement into and out of the city. Hundreds of Syrians were reportedly arrested, and by late July, activists in Latakia were telling foreign media they feared
4551-538: The 20th century, Latakia had a population of roughly 7,000 inhabitants; however, the Journal of the Society of Arts recorded a population of 25,000 in 1905. In a 1992 estimate, Latakia had a population of 284,000, rising to 303,000 in the 1994 census. The city's population continued to rise, reaching an estimated 402,000 residents in 2002. In 2010, Latakia City was 50% Alawite, 40% Sunni and 10% Christian; however,
Second Syrian Republic - Misplaced Pages Continue
4662-449: The Alawite tribes, and the Alawite State was incorporated into Syria with little organised resistance. In 1942, the Latakia and Druze regions were returned to Syrian control, and by 1946, the French completely left Syria and a new independent government was created. All but a few classical buildings had been destroyed by the modern era, often by earthquakes; those remaining include a Roman triumphal arch and Corinthian columns known as
4773-937: The Assembly was dissolved on 9 August 1928. On 14 May 1930, the State of Syria was declared the Republic of Syria and a new Syrian constitution was promulgated by the French High Commissioner, in the same time as the Lebanese Constitution, the Règlement du Sandjak d'Alexandrette , the Statute of the Alawi Government, the Statute of the Jabal Druze State. A new flag was also mentioned in this constitution: During December 1931 and January 1932,
4884-531: The Colonnade of Bacchus . However, important remains from the city at Roman and Hellenistic periods including full body statues, Roman funerary art, and column capitals that once belonged to the ancient city, now found in its national museum. An extensive port project was proposed in 1948, and construction work began on the Port of Latakia in 1950, aided by a US$ 6 million loan from Saudi Arabia . By 1951,
4995-448: The French High Commissioner in Syria, Hashim al-Atassi went to Paris heading a senior National Bloc delegation. The new Popular Front -led French government, formed in June 1936 after the April–May elections , had agreed to recognize the National Bloc as the sole legitimate representatives of the Syrian people and invited al-Atassi to independence negotiations. The resulting treaty called for immediate recognition of Syrian independence as
5106-505: The French Mandate, has often been interpreted as a " divide and rule " strategy by the French, who sought to undermine anti-colonial nationalist movements. The French justified the creation of the Alawite state by citing the "backwardness" of the mountain-dwellers, religiously distinct from the surrounding Sunni population; they claimed that the division protected the Alawi people from more-powerful Sunni majorities. This division by
5217-667: The French administration in Syria did not stop Alawites such as Sheikh Saleh al-Ali , who led the Syrian Revolt of 1919 , in continuing to protest French rule. Saleh al-Ali coordinated with the leaders of other anti-French revolts in the country, including the revolt of Ibrahim Hananu in the Aleppo countryside and Subhi Barakat 's revolt in Antioch , but Saleh al-Ali's revolt was put down in 1921. A French court-martial in Latakia sentenced Shaykh Saleh to death in absentia and offered
5328-410: The French government, led France to reconsider its promises and refuse to ratify the treaty. Also, France ceded the Sanjak of Alexandretta , whose territory was guaranteed as part of Syria in the treaty, to Turkey . Riots again broke out, Atassi resigned, and Syrian independence was deferred until after World War II . With the fall of France in 1940 during World War II, Syria came under the control of
5439-601: The High Commissioner appointed Sheikh Taj al-Din al-Hasani as the new interim head of state. The High Commissioner decreed an amnesty before the elections, terming it a general amnesty but excluding charges related to the great revolution and key Syrian-Lebanese nationalist leaders such as Shukri al-Quwatli , Abdel Rahman Shahbandar , Fawzi Qawukji , Ihsan Jabri (Syria), Amin Rouhaiaha and Mohamed Shureiki ( Alawi region ), Sultan al-Atrash ( Jabal Druze ), as well as Shakib Arslan , and Shaib Whab (Lebanon). Therefore, Syrian armed resistance leaders were unable to participate in
5550-415: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and pegged its currency to the U.S. dollar at 2.19148 pounds = 1 dollar, a rate which was maintained until 1961. The Lebanese and Syrian currencies split in 1948. The Arab League failed in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . Husni al-Za'im took power in 1949 but died later that year. He was succeeded by Atassi. A new constitution was drafted and adopted in 1950, marking
5661-433: The Israeli areas, but fortified their strongholds on the Golan Heights and managed to keep their old borders and occupy some additional territory. In July 1949, Syria was the last Arab country to sign an armistice agreement with Israel. On 29 March 1949, Syria's national government was overthrown by a military coup d'état led by Hussni al-Zaim . The cause of this coup was the shame that the Syrian Army experienced following
SECTION 50
#17327733636535772-534: The Syrian army on 14 August 2011. Activists claimed that 25 people died during the attack. Latakia is the home of Russia's largest foreign SIGINT facility. Khmeimim Air Base is an airbase near Latakia converted to use by the Russian military in 2015. Russian president Vladimir Putin , accompanied by his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad visited the Khmeimim airbase , Russia's main military base in Syria, located just outside Latakia near Jableh on 11 December 2017. Declaring victory over ISIL, and announcing
5883-415: The Syrian border. During this standoff, Communists gained more control over the Syrian government and military. Only heated debates in the United Nations (of which Syria was an original member) lessened the threat of war. Syria's political instability during the years after the 1954 coup, the parallelism of Syrian and Egyptian policies, and the appeal of Egyptian President Gamal Abdal Nasser 's leadership in
5994-505: The UAR led elements opposed to the union under Abd al-Karim al-Nahlawi to seize power on 28 September 1961. Two days later, Syria re-established itself as the Syrian Arab Republic. Frequent coups, military revolts, civil disorders and bloody riots characterized the 1960s. The 8 March 1963 coup resulted in installation of the National Council of the Revolutionary Command (NCRC), a group of military and civilian officials who assumed control of all executive and legislative authority. The takeover
6105-592: The United Nations, relationship among which shall be based on respect for the principle of sovereign equality.'" So when the UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, after ratification of the United Nations Charter by the five permanent members , as both Syria and Lebanon were founding member states, the French mandate for both was legally terminated on that date and full independence attained. On 29 May 1945, France bombed Damascus and tried to arrest its democratically elected leaders. While French planes were bombing Damascus , Prime Minister Faris al-Khoury
6216-590: The United Nations, relationship among which shall be based on respect for the principle of sovereign equality.'" So when the UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, after ratification of the United Nations Charter by the five permanent members , as both Syria and Lebanon were founding member states, the French mandate for both was legally terminated on that date and full independence attained. On 29 May 1945, France bombed Damascus and tried to arrest its democratically elected leaders. While French planes were bombing Damascus , Prime Minister Faris al-Khoury
6327-442: The United Nations; it became a de facto sovereign state on 17 April 1946, with the withdrawal of French troops. It was succeeded by the Second Syrian Republic upon the adoption of a new constitution on 5 September 1950. On 23 December 1925, Henri de Jouvenel was appointed as French High Commissioner for Syria , and on 28 April 1926, the High Commissioner appointed Ahmad Nami as Prime Minister and Head of State, who formed
6438-403: The arrival of Henri Ponsott , the High Commissioner, and Taj al-Din al-Hasani , the Prime Minister and his ministers. The Constituent Assembly began to recite of the articles of the Constitution, then the meeting was suspended to the date of 11 August 1928, when the session opened again in the presence of the High Commissioner, the Prime Minister and his ministers, then the rest of the articles of
6549-403: The assassination of an Alawite religious leader in the city. The following day 2,000 paratroopers, commanded by Rifaat al-Assad , were sent to restore order. In the violence that followed around forty people were killed including ten pilots from the Latakia air base. In 1987, the city hosted the tenth round of the Mediterranean Games , with the opening ceremony hosted by Hafez al-Assad in
6660-419: The beginning of the Second Syrian Republic . 35°00′00″N 38°00′00″E / 35.0000°N 38.0000°E / 35.0000; 38.0000 Latakia Latakia ˌ( / l æ t ə ˈ k iː ə / ; Arabic : ٱللَّاذْقِيَّة , romanized : al-Lādhiqiyya ; Syrian pronunciation: [el.laːdˈʔɪjje, -laːðˈqɪjja] ) is the principal port city of Syria and capital city of
6771-584: The capital of the autonomous territory of the Alawites . This autonomous territory became the Alawite State in 1922, proclaiming its independence a number of times until reintegrating into Syria in 1944. Like many Seleucid cities, Latakia was named after a member of the ruling dynasty. It was first called Laodikeia on the Coast ( Greek : Λαοδίκεια ἡ Πάραλος ) by Seleucus I Nicator in honor of his mother, Laodice . In Latin , its name became Laodicea ad Mare . The original name survives in its Arabic form as al-Ladhiqiyyah ( Arabic : اللاذقية ), from which
SECTION 60
#17327733636536882-416: The city on 19 August 1097, with 28 ships coming from Cyprus during the First Crusade . In 1098, Raymond of Saint-Gilles captured the city, with the Byzantine fleet presence; hence, the city became contested between the crusaders and the Byzantines who controlled Latakia and Baniyas in the meantime. After failed efforts by Bohemond I of Antioch to capture Latakia from the Byzantine Empire in 1099, and
6993-407: The city range from around 16 °C (61 °F) in January to around 30 °C (86 °F) in August. Latakia on average receives around 760 millimetres (30 in) of rainfall annually. One of the first censuses was in 1825, which recorded that there were 6,000–8,000 Muslims, 1,000 Greek Orthodox Christians, 30 Armenian Christians , 30 Maronite Catholics , and 30 Jews . At the beginning of
7104-406: The city, until they were defeated by the Mamluks of Qalawun , on 20 April 1287. In circa 1300, Arab geographer al-Dimashqi noted that Latakia had no running water and that trees were scarce, but the city's port was "a wonderful harbor... full of large ships". In 1332, the Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta visited Latakia in his journeys. During the late 14th and 15th century, Venetians had
7215-407: The commerce through the port of Laodicea. The heretic Apollinarius was bishop of Lāŏdĭcḗa in the 4th century. The city minted coins from an early date, but decreasing in importance after the cities of Alexandria and Antioch flourished in coin minting and overshadowed other cities. The city was also famed for its wine produced around the port's hills which were exported to all the empire. During
7326-486: The completion of a railway line to Homs . The port became even more important after 1975 due to the troubled situation in Lebanon and the loss of Beirut and Tripoli as functioning ports. In 1973, during the October War (Yom Kippur War), the naval Battle of Latakia between Israel and Syria was fought just offshore from the city. The battle was the first to be fought using missiles and ECM (electronic countermeasures). On 2 September 1979 clashes broke out following
7437-415: The constitution were recited, and upon voting on it as a whole, approved by the Constituent Assembly for all its 115 articles, including the six articles (2, 72, 73, 75, 110, 112 and many relate to the authorities of the President and the Army), which was the men of the mandate are expecting for its abolition from the constitution, for inconsistency with the mandate system. The High Commissioner withdrew from
7548-427: The constitution. The National Bloc was in the minority in the new chamber of deputies with only 16 deputies out of 70, due to intensive vote-rigging by the French authorities. Among the deputies were also three members of the Syrian Kurdish nationalist Xoybûn (Khoyboun) party, Khalil bey Ibn Ibrahim Pacha ( Al-Jazira Province ), Mustafa bey Ibn Shahin ( Jarabulus ) and Hassan Aouni ( Kurd Dagh ). There were later in
7659-453: The control of the Vichy Government until the British and Free French invaded and occupied the country in July 1941. Syria proclaimed its independence again in 1941 but it was not until 1 January 1944 that it was recognized as an independent republic. In the 1940s, Britain secretly advocated the creation of a Greater Syrian state that would secure Britain preferential status in military, economic and cultural matters, in return for putting
7770-435: The country. The national government was restored, but again to face instability, this time coming from abroad. After the overthrow of President Shishakli in the February 1954 coup , continued political maneuvering supported by competing factions in the military eventually brought Arab nationalist and socialist elements to power. During the Suez Crisis of 1956, after the invasion of the Sinai Peninsula by Israeli troops, and
7881-410: The declaration of independence, Syrian politics from independence through the late 1960s was marked by upheaval. The early years of independence were marked by political instability. From 1946 to 1956, Syria had 20 different cabinets and drafted four separate constitutions. In 1948, Syria was involved in the Arab-Israeli War with the newly created State of Israel . The Syrian army was pressed out of
7992-593: The district of Hims ( Homs ). The Mardaites controlled the region from Jebel Aqra to northern Palestine , including Latakia in 705. However, they later withdrew from the city after an agreement with the Umayyad caliph Al-Walid I . Afterwards, the Mardaites sacked it in 719, but it was rebuilt by Umar II . The city lost its importance due to its location on the border between the Byzantine Empire and
8103-615: The east in the Coastal Mountain Range , and Jableh and Baniyas to the south. Latakia is the capital of the Latakia Governorate, in western Syria, bordering Turkey to the north. The governorate has a reported area of either 2,297 square kilometres (887 sq mi) or 2,437 square kilometres (941 sq mi). Latakia is the administrative centre of the Latakia District that occupies
8214-549: The elections. The nationalists formed a new political grouping in preparation for the elections that included the former National Party , some members of the People's Party , and independent figures, most of which are local, and called themselves the National Bloc , and Hashim al-Atassi was elected as its president. Elections were held in April 1928 and 70 members were elected, and the results were not decided, but in favor of urban nationalists and rural moderates. The project of
8325-400: The empire's taxation, fortified the city, made it for a few years the capital of Roman Syria and also built the city's famed Tetraporticus around the same time. Some Roman merchants moved to live in the city under Augustus , but the city was always culturally "Greek" influenced. Subsequently, a Roman road was built from southern Anatolia toward Berytus and Damascus, that greatly improved
8436-655: The first elections under the new constitution were held, under an electoral law providing for "the representation of religious minorities" as imposed by article 37 of the constitution. The National Bloc was in the minority in the new Chamber of deputies with only 16 deputies out of 70, due to intensive vote-rigging by the French authorities. Among the deputies were also three members of the Syrian Kurdish nationalist Xoybûn (Khoyboun) party, Khalil bey Ibn Ibrahim Pacha ( Al-Jazira province ), Mustafa bey Ibn Shahin ( Jarabulus ) and Hassan Aouni ( Kurd Dagh ). There were later in
8547-486: The first stage of its construction was completed, and the port handled an increasing amount of Syria's overseas trade. In August 1957, 4,000 Egyptian troops landed in Latakia under orders from Gamal Abdel Nasser after Turkish troops massed along the border with Syria, accusing it of harboring Turkish Communists . A major highway linked Latakia with Aleppo and the Euphrates valley starting in 1968, supplemented by
8658-477: The following year by an election which is made by the people in Hatay. In June 1939. Syria did not recognize the incorporation of Hatay into Turkey and the issue is still disputed until the present time. The emerging threat of Adolf Hitler induced a fear of being outflanked by Nazi Germany if France relinquished its colonies in the Middle East. That, coupled with lingering imperialist inclinations in some levels of
8769-618: The head of the political division of the High Commission surprised them and read to the deputies the High Commissioner's memorandum containing the eliminate the six articles opposing the mandate's policy and declaring the suspension of the Constituent Assembly indefinitely. On 14 May 1930 the French high commissioner promulgated a constitution for the Syrian State. On 22 May 1930 the State of Syria
8880-433: The height. It shall contain three bands of equal dimensions, the upper band being green, the middle band white, and the lower band black. The white portion shall bear three red stars in line, having five points each. During 20 December 1931 and 4 January 1932, the first elections under the new constitution were held, under an electoral law providing for "the representation of religious minorities" as imposed by article 37 of
8991-473: The intervention of British and French troops, martial law was declared in Syria. Later Syrian and Iraqi troops were brought into Jordan to prevent a possible Israeli invasion. The November 1956 attacks on Iraqi pipelines were in retaliation for Iraq's acceptance into the Baghdad Pact . In early 1957, Iraq advised Egypt and Syria against a conceivable takeover of Jordan. In November 1956, Syria signed
9102-745: The juridical situation as it results from the Mandate Act. Indeed, this situation could be changed only with the agreement of the Council of the League of Nations, with the consent of the Government of the United States, a signatory of the Franco-American Convention of 4 April 1924, and only after the conclusion between the French Government and the Syrian and Lebanese Governments of treaties duly ratified in accordance with
9213-483: The juridical situation as it results from the Mandate act. Indeed, this situation could be changed only with the agreement of the Council of the League of Nations , with the consent of the Government of the United States, a signatory of the Franco-American Convention of 4 April 1924, and only after the conclusion between the French Government and the Syrian and Lebanese Governments of treaties duly ratified in accordance with
9324-620: The laws of the French Republic. Benqt Broms said that it was important to note that there were several founding members of the United Nations whose statehood was doubtful at the time of the San Francisco Conference and that the Government of France still considered Syria and Lebanon to be mandates. Duncan Hall said "Thus, the Syrian mandate may be said to have been terminated without any formal action on
9435-412: The laws of the French Republic. Benqt Broms said that it was important to note that there were several founding members of the United Nations whose statehood was doubtful at the time of the San Francisco Conference and that the Government of France still considered Syria and Lebanon to be mandates. Duncan Hall said "Thus, the Syrian mandate may be said to have been terminated without any formal action on
9546-599: The northern portion of the Latakia Governorate. Nahr al-Kabir al-Shamali flows into the Mediterranean Sea south of Latakia. Under Köppen's climate classification , Latakia has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Csa ) with warm, humid summers and cool, wet winters. Latakia's wettest months are December and January, where average precipitation is around 160 mm. The city's driest month, July, only has on average about 1 millimetre (0.04 in) of rain, despite being rather humid. Average high temperatures in
9657-516: The part of the League or its successor. The mandate was terminated by the declaration of the mandatory power, and of the new states themselves, of their independence, followed by a process of piecemeal unconditional recognition by other powers, culminating in formal admission to the United Nations. Article 78 of the Charter ended the status of tutelage for any member state: 'The trusteeship system shall not apply to territories which have become Members of
9768-461: The part of the League or its successor. The mandate was terminated by the declaration of the mandatory power, and of the new states themselves, of their independence, followed by a process of piecemeal unconditional recognition by other powers, culminating in formal admission to the United Nations. Article 78 of the Charter ended the status of tutelage for any member state: 'The trusteeship system shall not apply to territories which have become Members of
9879-502: The port handled about 8 million tons of cargo. The largest area of the port, with 43 hectares, occupies the container terminal. The storage capacity is up to 17,000 containers. Latakia was connected to six ferry lines to Alexandria (Egypt), İzmir (Turkey) and Beirut (Lebanon). It is not known whether the lines still exist in the Syrian civil war , which has been going on since 2011. The marina Latakia has 150 berths for ships up to
9990-447: The port. The attack killed 2 Syrian Army soldiers, destroyed several containers and set the port on fire for several hours. Latakia is located 348 kilometres (216 mi) north-west of Damascus, 186 kilometres (116 mi) south-west from Aleppo, 186 kilometres (116 mi) north-west of Homs, and 90 kilometres (56 mi) north of Tartus. Nearby towns and villages include Kasab to the north, Al-Haffah , Slinfah and Qardaha to
10101-471: The region. In April 1136, the city was sacked by Emir Sawar ibn Aytakin, governor of Aleppo , then it was struck by the 1157 Hama earthquake and the 1170 Syria earthquake . This situation remained the same with the city serving as the primary port for the Principality until it was captured following a siege by the Ayyubids , under the rule of Saladin on 23 July 1188. By 1260, the crusaders recaptured
10212-472: The rural hinterland has an Alawite majority of roughly 70%, with Sunni Muslims making up 14%, Christians making up 12%, and Ismailis representing the remaining 2%. The city serves as the capital of the Alawite population and is a major cultural center for the religion. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, large numbers of Alawites from the area emigrated to the country's capital Damascus. Of the Christians,
10323-557: The session angry and followed by the Prime Minister and ministers, and he issued a decision to postpone the convening of the Constituent Assembly for a period of three months, hoping that an agreement would be reached on the six articles of the Constitution that contradict the mandate policy, and postponement of the negotiations were repeated to no avail. Then when the Constituent Assembly opened its session on 5 February 1929,
10434-480: The shortest usage, that being from 1961 to 1963. It is also the flag of the Syrian Opposition during the ongoing Syrian civil war . The project of a new constitution was discussed by a Constituent Assembly elected in April 1928, but as the pro-independence National Bloc had won a majority and insisted on the insertion of several articles "that did not preserve the prerogatives of the mandatary power",
10545-660: The split of the Roman Empire , it belonged to the Eastern Roman Empire . An earthquake damaged the city in 494, but the city was later reconstructed by Justinian I and made the capital of the Eastern Roman province of Theodorias from 528 AD until Muslim conquest around 637 AD. All of Syria, including the Roman province of Theodorias and its capital, Laodicea fell into Muslim rule after its attacked by
10656-427: The status of millet , although they enjoyed relative autonomy. In 1920, Latakia fell under the French mandate, under which the Alawite State was established. The state was named after the locally-dominant Alawites and became a French mandate territory after World War I. The French Mandate from the League of Nations began in 1920. The creation of the Alawite State, as well as the other states of Syria under
10767-439: The time was a French puppet, Muhammad 'Ali Bay al-'Abid . Fierce opposition to this treaty was spearheaded by senior nationalist and parliamentarian Hashim al-Atassi , who called for a 60-day strike in protest. Atassi's political coalition, the National Bloc , mobilized massive popular support for his call. Riots and demonstrations raged, and the economy came to a standstill. After negotiations in March with Damien de Martel ,
10878-505: The use of its air space , and to allow France to maintain two military bases on Syrian territory. Other political, economic and cultural provisions were included. Atassi returned to Syria in triumph on 27 September 1936 and was elected President of the Republic in November. In September 1938, France again separated the Syrian Sanjak of Alexandretta and transformed it into the State of Hatay . The State of Hatay joined Turkey in
10989-515: The wake of the Suez crisis created support in Syria for union with Egypt. On 1 February 1958, Syrian president Shukri al-Kuwatli and Nasser announced the merging of the two countries, creating the United Arab Republic , and all Syrian political parties, as well as the Communists therein, ceased overt activities. The merger was approved in a 1958 referendum . Discontent with Egyptian dominance of
11100-530: The year, from 30 March to 6 April, "complementary elections". In 1933, France attempted to impose a treaty of independence heavily prejudiced in favor of France. It promised gradual independence but kept the Syrian Mountains under French control. The Syrian head of state at the time was a French puppet, Muhammad 'Ali Bay al-'Abid . Fierce opposition to this treaty was spearheaded by senior nationalist and parliamentarian Hashim al-Atassi , who called for
11211-626: The year, from 30 March to 6 April, "complementary elections". On 11 June 1932 the Syrian Chamber of Deputies elected Muhammad 'Ali Bay al-'Abid as president, the Syrian State was renamed the Republi c of Syria in July 1932. In 1933, France attempted to impose a treaty of independence heavily prejudiced in favor of France. It promised gradual independence but kept the Syrian mountains under French control. The Syrian head of state at
11322-557: Was at the founding conference of the United Nations in San Francisco, presenting Syria 's claim for independence from the French Mandate . Syrian independence was attained on 24 October 1945, with recognition of the international community. Continuing pressure from Syrian nationalist groups and British pressure forced the French to evacuate their last troops on 17 April 1946. Although rapid economic development followed
11433-419: Was at the founding conference of the United Nations in San Francisco, presenting Syria 's claim for independence from the French Mandate . Syrian independence was de jure attained on 24 October 1945. Continuing pressure from Syrian nationalist groups and British pressure forced the French to evacuate their last troops on 17 April 1946. The constitution of 1930 was amended in 1947. In 1947, Syria joined
11544-500: Was decided that the Alawite state would be re-incorporated into Syria as a concession by the French to the Nationalist Bloc , which was the ruling party of the semi-autonomous Syrian government; the decision went into effect in 1937. There was a great deal of Alawite separatist sentiment in the region, but their political views could not be coordinated into a unified voice. There was also a great deal of factionalism amongst
11655-547: Was declared the Republic of Syria and a new Syrian Constitution was promulgated by the French High Commissioner, in the same time as the Lebanese Constitution, the Règlement du Sandjak d'Alexandrette , the Statute of the Alawi Government, the Statute of the Jabal Druze State. A new flag was also mentioned in this constitution: The Syrian flag shall be composed as follows, the length shall be double
11766-520: Was described in Strabo 's Geographica : It is a city most beautifully built, has a good harbour, and has territory which, besides its other good crops, abounds in wine. Now this city furnishes the most of the wine to the Alexandreians, since the whole of the mountain that lies above the city and is possessed by it is covered with vines almost as far as the summits. And while the summits are at
11877-440: Was elected President of the Republic in November. In September 1938, France separated the Syrian Sanjak of Alexandretta , despite its territory being guaranteed as part of Syria in the treaty, and transformed it into Hatay State , which joined Turkey in June 1939. Syria did not recognize the incorporation of Hatay into Turkey and the issue is still disputed until the present time. The emerging threat of Nazi Germany induced
11988-644: Was engineered by members of the Ba'ath Party led by Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din al-Bitar . The new cabinet was dominated by Ba'ath members; the moderate al-Bitar became premier. First Syrian Republic The First Syrian Republic , officially the Syrian Republic , was formed in 1930 as a component of the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon , succeeding the State of Syria . A treaty of independence
12099-517: Was killed in an urban revolt later that year that was inspired by the fundamentalist shaykh Muhammad al-Moghrabi. During the Egyptian occupation of Syria (1831–1841) there was a major Alawite revolt (1834-1835) in both the town and the surrounding countryside. In 1888, when Wilayat Beirut was established, Latakia became its northernmost town. In the Ottoman period , the region of Latakia became predominantly Alawi . The Turkmen also consisted
12210-534: Was made in 1936 to grant independence to Syria and end official French rule, but the French parliament refused to accept the treaty. From 1940 to 1941, the Syrian Republic was under the control of Vichy France , and after the Allied invasion in 1941 gradually went on the path towards independence. The proclamation of independence took place in 1944, but only in October 1945 was the Syrian Republic de jure recognized by
12321-527: Was the first president to be elected under a new constitution adopted after the independence treaty. The treaty guaranteed incorporation of previously autonomous Druze and Alawite regions into Greater Syria , but not Lebanon , with which France signed a similar treaty in November. The treaty also promised curtailment of French intervention in Syrian domestic affairs as well as a reduction of French troops, personnel and military bases in Syria. In return, Syria pledged to support France in times of war, including
#652347