Khawabi

Khawabi
الخوابي
Qal'at Khawabi
Village
Khawabi Castle
Khawabi
Coordinates: 34°58′22″N 36°0′8″E / 34.97278°N 36.00222°E / 34.97278; 36.00222
Country Syria
GovernorateTartus
DistrictTartus
SubdistrictAl-Sawda
Population
 (2004)
  Total
1,039
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Khawabi (Arabic: الخوابي), also spelled Qal'at al-Khawabi (Arabic: قلعة الخوابي) is a village and medieval citadel in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Tartus Governorate, located 20 kilometers northeast of Tartus and 12 kilometers east of al-Sawda. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Khawabi had a population of 1,039 in the 2004 census. Its inhabitants are predominantly Sunni Muslims. The village formerly had a significant Ismaili population until the early 20th century, and during the medieval period, its citadel (Qal'at Khawabi) served as a center of the Ismaili community when they were known as the Assassins. The citadel itself has been inhabited since at least the 12th century.