Syria is Lebanon's northern and eastern neighbor, and shares a long history of cultural, religious, and political interactions. Syria has a diverse religious landscape, with Sunni, Shia, Alawite, Druze, Christian, and other minorities coexisting and sometimes clashing.
Iraq is another country in Western Asia that has a rich and diverse history of religions, civilizations, and empires. Iraq is home to various ethno-religious groups, such as Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians, Turkmen, Yazidis, Shabaks, Mandaeans, and others, who follow different branches of Islam, Christianity, and other faiths.
Israel is Lebanon's southern neighbor, and has a complex and contentious relationship with it. Israel is a predominantly Jewish state, but also has a sizable Arab minority, as well as other religious and ethnic groups. Israel's history is intertwined with the history of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and the region has witnessed many conflicts and wars over the centuries.
Iran is a country in Western Asia that has a long and influential history of religion, culture, and politics. Iran is predominantly Shia Muslim, but also has significant Sunni, Zoroastrian, Bahai, Christian, Jewish, and other minorities. Iran has played a major role in the development of Islam, Persian literature, art, and science, and has been involved in several regional and international conflicts.
Turkey is a country in Western Asia that straddles the border with Europe, and has a diverse and dynamic history of religion, culture, and politics. Turkey is mainly Sunni Muslim, but also has a large Alevi, Kurdish, Christian, Jewish, and other minorities. Turkey has been the seat of several empires, such as the Ottoman, Seljuk, and Byzantine, and has a strong secular and democratic tradition, as well as a tense relationship with some of its neighbors.