Kafr Laha

Kafr Laha (Arabic: كفرلاها‎) is a town in the Homs Governorate north of Homs in northern Syria.[1] In 2004 it had a population of 20,041 according to the Central Bureau of Statistics of Syria.[2] Its inhabitants are predominantly Sunni Muslims.[3] It is the largest town in the Houla region. Nearby localities include Tallaf to the northeast, Tell Dahab to the north, Aqrab to the northwest, Qarmas and Maryamin to the west, al-Taybah al-Gharbiyah to the southwest and Taldou to the southeast.

Kafr Laha كفرلاها Kafar Laha
town
Kafr Laha Location in Syria
Coordinates: 34°52′59″N 36°30′0″E
Country	Syria
Governorate	Homs
District	Taldou
Subdistrict	Kafr Laha
Population  (2004)
• Total	20,041
Time zone	UTC+3 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (EEST)

History

Kafr Laha has been identified as the ancient Aramaean settlement of Byt'l also known as "Bethel".[4]

Kafr Laha has been the site of demonstrations against the Assad government during the ongoing Syrian uprising which began in 2011.[5] As of 21 June 2012, government forces have been driven from the town center and are relegated to positions on the town's periphery.[6][7]

References

1. U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Geographic Names Database, 2012
2. "2004 General Census". Central Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
3. Smith, 1841, p. 179.
4. Lipinsky, Edward. The Aramaeans: Their Ancient History, Culture, Religion Peeters Publishers, 2000. p. 203. ISBN 9042908599
5. "Arab League meets to discuss Syrian plan". Al Jazeera. 2 Nov 2011.
6. “Some rebels wonder if Syrian troops' poor use of tanks, helicopters is intentional,” McClatchy Newspapers, 21 June 2012.
7. "YouTube". Retrieved 25 October 2014.

Bibliography

• Smith, Eli; Robinson, Edward (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the Year 1838. 3. Crocker and Brewster.