Qardaha is a town in northwestern Syria, in the mountains overlooking the coastal town of Latakia. Nearby localities include Kilmakho to the west, Bustan al-Basha to the southwest, Harf al-Musaytirah to the southeast and Muzayraa to the north. According to the Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics, Qardaha had a population of 8,671 in 2004. It has a predominantly Alawite population and is the traditional home of the Assad family, which ruled Syria from 1970 until 2024. It is believed that many of Assad’s loyalists have fled to Qardaha after the end of the Assad regime in December 2024.
HTS militants have unleashed a terrifying campaign of violence across Syria, with attacks occurring every 10 minutes, primarily..