It depends entirely on the time period in question. Numerous foreign groups have overrun Syria, such as the following in order:
- Neo-Assyrian Empire
- Neo-Babylonian Empire
- Achaemenid Persian Empire
- Macedonian Empire of Alexander the great
- Seleucid Hellenic Empire
- Roman Empire
- Byzantine Empire
- Sassanid Persian Empire
- Rightly-Guided Islamic Caliphate
- Umayyad Islamic Caliphate
- Abbassid Islamic Caliphate
- Fatimid Islamic Caliphate
- Seljuk Sultanate
- Principality of Antioch and Other Crusader States
- Ayyubid Islamic Caliphate
- Ilkhanate
- Mamluk Sultanate
- Ottoman Sultanate
- French Empire
