Daraa

Daraa is a city in southwestern Syria, and the capital of Daraa Governorate. It is located near the Jordanian border and the Golan Heights, and sits at the crossroads of major routes linking Damascus with the southern provinces and Jordan. This position has given the city both administrative prominence and commercial significance for the surrounding region.

The area around Daraa has long been an agricultural and trading zone. The city drew international attention in 2011 as the birthplace of the Syrian uprising after protests began in response to the detention of teenagers in Daraa. The ensuing civil conflict involved multiple factions and led to extensive damage and widespread displacement over the following years.

In the latter half of the 2010s, government offensives and local reconciliations brought much of Daraa under government control. The conflict left substantial damage to infrastructure and housing, and reconstruction has progressed at varying rates across the governorate. Security conditions and mobility in some parts of the area remained constrained for some time after the major fighting subsided.

Economically, Daraa’s economy is centered on agriculture, with citrus fruits, olives, and grains playing important roles. Trade and small-scale industry in the city and nearby towns supplement agricultural activity. The city also retains cultural and historic features, including markets and mosques, and serves as a regional hub for the surrounding farming communities.