Damascus ( də-MASS-kəs or də-MAHS-kəs; Arabic: دمشق, romanized: Dimašq Arabic pronunciation: [diˈmaʃq], Syrian Arabic: Arabic pronunciation: [dɪˈmaʃʔ], Classical Syriac: ܕܰܪܡܣܘܩ, romanized: Darmswq) is the capital of Syria, the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth holiest city in Islam. Following the Syrian Civil War, it became the country's largest city, surpassing the northern city of Aleppo.