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Idlib

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Idlib is an important city in northwestern Syria.

SyriaIdlib
SyriaIdlib

It serves as the capital of the Idlib Governorate. The city sits about 59 kilometers southwest of Aleppo.

Idlib collage
Idlib collage

It is located near the border with Turkey. The land here is quite high up. It sits nearly 500 meters above sea level.

Idlib1
Idlib1

This location makes it a central place in its region.

The weather in Idlib follows a Mediterranean pattern. This means the seasons feel very different from each other. Summers are typically hot and do not have much rain. One very hot day in June 2012 reached 44 °C.

Idlib1
Idlib1

In contrast, the winters are cool and bring plenty of rain. This rain helps the many plants in the area grow well. The climate supports a very busy farming life.

Idlib has a very long and complex history. Long ago, the Armenian king Tigranes the Great conquered the area. Later, the Roman leader Pompey the Great took control around 64 BCE.

Byzantine temple in Idlib (Ruweiha) Syria
Byzantine temple in Idlib (Ruweiha) Syria

Many years later, Arabs conquered the city in the middle of the seventh century. To the north, you can find the Dead Cities. These are special archaeological sites from the Byzantine era. Much of the ancient Roman history is kept in a local museum.

Agriculture is a huge part of how the city works. Idlib is a major center for growing many different things.

Idlib1
Idlib1

Farmers grow olives, cotton, wheat, and many types of fruit. You might find cherries, almonds, sesame seeds, or figs here. In 1995, there were about 300 hectares of citrus crops. The olives are very important for making oil and soap. This soap industry was once very prosperous and was even sent to Istanbul.

Idlib collage
Idlib collage

Today, the city is a place of many different people and activities. The population grew from 98,791 people in 2004 to about 165,000 by 2010.

Idlib collage
Idlib collage

The city is split into six main districts like Ashrafiyah and Hittin. Many people there enjoy watching football. The most popular team is called Omaya SC, which was founded in 1972.

Idlib collage
Idlib collage

They even played in the Syrian Premier League. The Idlib Municipal Stadium is where the big games happen.

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🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:Syria physical location map.svg
Syria physical location map.svg
File:Flag of Syria (2025-).svg
Flag of Syria (2025-).svg
File:Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
File:Idlib collage.png
Idlib collage.png
File:Syrian rebels Faylaq al-Sham Idlib.jpg
Syrian rebels Faylaq al-Sham Idlib.jpg
File:Syria districts.png
Syria districts.png
File:Byzantine temple in Idlib (Ruweiha) Syria.jpg
Byzantine temple in Idlib (Ruweiha) Syria.jpg
File:Idlib1.jpg
Idlib1.jpg
File:SyriaIdlib.PNG
SyriaIdlib.PNG
File:Idlib blank districts.png
Idlib blank districts.png
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