Idlib

Idlib ( , ; also spelt Idleb or Edlib) is a city in northwestern Syria, and is the capital of the Idlib Governorate. It has an elevation of nearly above sea level, and is southwest of Aleppo. It is located near the border with Turkey.

Idlib ( , ; also spelt Idleb or Edlib) is a city in northwestern Syria, and is the capital of the Idlib Governorate. It has an elevation of nearly above sea level, and is southwest of Aleppo. It is located near the border with Turkey. ==History== A Neolithic settlement dating back to 8500 BCE was identified at Tell Ain el-Kerkh, near Idlib. The Ebla tablets (2350 BCE) mention the city of (du-ḫu-la-bu 6 -um "Duhulabum") which is most probably located at Idlib as suggested by Michael Astour and Douglas Frayne; a similarity exists between the sounds of the ancient and modern names. In the tablets, Duhulabuum is 22 km south of "Unqi" which might correspond to the modern village of Kaukanya/Kukaniyeh ( ), located approximately 22 km north of Idlib (see Dead Cities). Thutmose III also mentioned the city with the name Ytḥb. ==Climate== Köppen climate classification system classifies its climate as hot-summer Mediterranean (Csa). Summers are hot and rainless, while winters are rainy and cool. The all-time record high temperature was on June 16, 2012. ==Demographics== In the 2004 census by the Central Bureau of Statistics of Syria, Idlib had a population of 98,791 and in 2010 the population was around 165,000. The inhabitants are mostly Sunni Muslim, although there was previously a significant Christian minority, but by 2022 there was only a single elderly Christian man left in the city. Idlib is divided into six main districts: Ashrafiyah (the most populous), Hittin, Hejaz, Downtown, Hurriyah, and al-Qusour. ==Economy== Idlib is a major production center for olives, cotton, wheat and fruits, particularly cherries. Other principal crops include almonds, sesame seeds, figs, grapes and tomatoes. In 1995 there were roughly 300 hectares planted with various citrus crop. Olive oil pressing and textiles are some of the city's local industries. The nearby city of Aleppo has an important economic presence in Idlib. Idlib is a major agricultural center in Syria. It is also historically significant, containing many "dead cities" and tells. Because of the rapidly declining value of the Syrian pound, the Turkish lira became widespread in Idlib and was adopted as legal tender in the city on 15 June 2020. This was reversed in 2025. ==Culture== 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. ==Education== ==Sports== Omaya SC, founded in 1972¹, 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. Refugee and parathlete Dima Aktaa is from the city. ==References== ==Sources== ==External links== ===News and events=== SANA - Idlib - Idlib news and services ===Governmental services===

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