Al-Husn, Homs

Al-Hosn is a city in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Homs Governorate. It is located west of Homs and north of the border with Lebanon. Nearby localities include al-Huwash to the east, Anaz to the southeast, Aridah to the south, al-Zarah to the southwest, Zweitina to the west, al-Nasirah and Marmarita to the northwest, Muqlus to the north, and Mazinah to the northeast.
According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Al-Hosn had a population of 8,980 in the 2004 census. It is the largest urban center in the al-Huwash nahiyah, which consisted of 19 localities with a collective population of 24,684 in 2004.
The inhabitants of the city are predominantly Sunni Muslims, with a significant Christian minority, and it lies within a region largely populated by Christians known as Wadi al-Nasara. The city contains a Greek Catholic Church.
Al-Hosn is built around the Krak des Chevaliers fortress. The name Al-Hosn means "the Fortress." The modern city developed after the relocation of inhabitants from the fortress itself during French-led excavations. Subsequent growth occurred with limited urban planning, resulting in significant urban sprawl surrounding the fortress.
In 2014, Al-Hosn was the site of a major battle during the Syrian Civil War.