Name: Syrian Arab Republic Continent: Asia Population: 17,200,000 Religion: Muslim 90%; Christian 10%

Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity. In recent years, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights. Information from the CIA World Fact Book

Timeline of Events Date Event 1970   1970 Hafez al-Assad becomes President of Syria 1976  January 1976 Syrian army enters Lebanon 2000 10 June 2000 President Hafez al-Assad Dies Go here for timeline sources.