Idlib:

Situated in the Northwest of Syria is the Governorate of Idleb. This governorate is the link between the coastal region and the inland steppe, as it was the Syrian gateway to Europe and the West through Bab Al Hawa (Door of the Wind).

The historical importance of Idleb is quite important. The area of Idleb holds over 190 manmade tells (hills), the most famous of which is at Tell Mardikh, Ebla. The cuneiform tablets found at Ebla prove that this area has been settled since the 3rd millennium BC. Idleb also has an abundance of Dead Cities, some which are well preserved and others that have been forgotten.