Duma

Douma (Arabic: دوما‎ Dūmā) is a city in Syria. Its centre is about 10 km north-west of the centre of Damascus. Being the capital of Rif Dimashq governorate (which completely surrounds the Damascus Governorate), the town is also the administrative centre of Douma District. With an altitude of 428 meters, Douma has a population of 117,679 as of 2007, making it the ninth largest city per geographical entity in Syria. During the 2011-2012 Syrian uprising, Douma has been a major flashpoint and has witnessed numerous demonstrations against the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad. Reportedly, on January 21, 2012, the city became the second to be controlled by forces rebelling from under Bashar Assad's government.