Syria: Introduction

Syria is a country in the Middle East bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Neighboring countries include Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. The geography of Syria is primarily semiarid and desert plateau with a double mountain belt in the west. The government system is a republic under authoritarian regime; the chief of state is the president, and the head of government is the prime minister. Syria has a mixed economy in which there is limited private freedom but the economy remains highly controlled by the government. Syria is a member of the League of Arab States (Arab League).