Latakia (Arabic
al-Ladhiqiya), city and port in northwestern Syria, capital of Latakia
Governorate, on the Mediterranean Sea. The city is the trading center for the
surrounding agricultural region and is also noted for tobacco, which is grown
nearby. It is a leading seaport of the country and its chief exports are cotton,
fruits, and tobacco. Tichreen University (1971) is here. Probably founded in the
3rd century BC, Al Ladhiqìyah
was ruled by the Phoenicians and Romans and subsequently was occupied at various
times by the Byzantines, Crusaders, Arabs, and Turks. Between World War I
(1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945), the city was administered by the
French. In 1942 Latakia was incorporated into Syria. Population (1992 estimate) 284,000.
