▁mission ▁started ▁working ▁in ▁the ▁cit adel ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 . ▁Much ▁attention ▁will ▁be ▁given ▁to ▁the ▁rein for cement ▁of ▁dam aged ▁or ▁struct ur ally ▁weak ▁parts ▁in ▁the ▁architecture . ▁It ▁is ▁expected ▁by ▁the ▁Sy rian – Ital ian ▁mission ▁that , ▁once ▁renov ations ▁are ▁finished , ▁the ▁cit adel ▁will ▁be ▁used ▁for ▁cultural ▁and ▁social ▁events ▁and ▁activities . ▁ ▁Cit adel ▁today ▁ ▁Location ▁and ▁layout ▁The ▁cit adel ▁is ▁located ▁in ▁the ▁north west ▁corner ▁of ▁the ▁old ▁w alled ▁city ▁of ▁Dam asc us , ▁between ▁the ▁Bab ▁al - F ar ad is ▁and ▁the ▁Bab ▁al - J abi y ah . ▁Where as ▁most ▁medieval ▁Arab ic ▁cast les ▁are ▁located ▁on ▁prominent ▁hill top s , ▁the ▁cit adel ▁of ▁Dam asc us ▁was ▁built ▁on ▁flat ▁ground ▁at ▁the ▁same ▁level ▁as ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁the ▁city , ▁a ▁feature ▁it ▁shares ▁with ▁the ▁Cit adel ▁of ▁Bos ra . ▁The ▁location ▁of ▁the ▁cit adel ▁ens ured ▁that ▁it ▁could ▁control ▁the ▁Bar ada ▁River , ▁which ▁flows ▁north ▁of ▁the ▁cit adel . ▁The ▁location ▁of ▁the ▁river ▁also ▁offered ▁protection ▁against ▁attack ▁from ▁that ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁cit adel . ▁The ▁N ahr ▁A q ra ban i , ▁a ▁canal ▁branch ing ▁off ▁the ▁Bar ada , ▁flow ed ▁immediately ▁below ▁the ▁northern ▁wall ▁and ▁provided ▁additional ▁protection . ▁The ▁dry ▁mo ats ▁on ▁the ▁other ▁sides ▁of ▁the ▁cit