Districts of Syria

Member State of the Arab League The 14 governorates of Syria, or muhafazat (sing.

Districts and subdistricts are administered by officials appointed by the governor, subject to the approval of the minister of the interior.

These officials work with elected district councils to attend to assorted local needs, and serve as intermediaries between central government authority and traditional local leaders, such as village chiefs, clan leaders, and councils of elders.

The city of Damascus functions as a governorate, a district and a subdistrict.

Parts of Quneitra Governorate have been under Israeli occupation since 1967 (see Golan Heights).