## Rules for editing the map
1-**A source, reliable for that specific edit, should be provided**.
a) A well-known source that has a reputation for neutral (not biased) territorial control coverage, can be used (is deemed reliable) for all edits.
b) A well-known source that does ''not'' have a reputation for neutral (not biased) territorial control coverage, can be used (is deemed reliable) ''only'' for edits that are ''unfavorable'' to the side it ''prefers'' (''favorable'' to the side it ''opposes'').
c) A source that is not well-known (or that has proven inaccurate for all edits) ''cannot'' be used (is deemed unreliable) for ''any'' edit. This includes all maps (see item 2- next).

2-**Copying from maps is strictly prohibited**. Maps from mainstream media are approximate and therefore unreliable for any edit. Maps from amateur sources are below the standards of Wikipedia for any edit. They violate WP:RS and WP:CIRCULAR.
WP:RS: “Anyone can create a personal web page or publish their own book, and also claim to be an expert in a certain field. For that reason, self-published media, such as books, patents, newsletters, personal websites, open wikis, personal or group blogs, Internet forum postings, and tweets, are largely not acceptable as sources.” Source: Wikipedia:Verifiability#Self-published_sources
WP:CIRCULAR: “Do not use websites that mirror Wikipedia content or publications that rely on material from Wikipedia as sources.”

3-**WP:POV pushing and intentional misinterpretation of sources will not be tolerated.** If you are not sure about what the source is saying (or its reliability), post it on the talk page first so that it would be discussed.

## Icons available for use on map
Control **:** &nbsp;11px Ba'ath Government ; 11px Opposition ; 11px SDF ; 11px Al-Nusra (JaN) ; 11px Islamic State (IS)
Stable mixed control (same colours) **:** 11px 11px 11px 11px 11px 11px 11px
&nbsp; 11px 11px 
&nbsp; 11px 
&nbsp; 11px 11px 11px &nbsp; Government & rebels stable mixed control (truce) **:** 11px 
Rural presence **:**&nbsp; 12px&nbsp; 12px&nbsp; 12px&nbsp; 12px&nbsp; 12px &nbsp; &nbsp; 12px&nbsp; 12px&nbsp; 12px&nbsp; 12px&nbsp; 12px
Contested **:** 11px Gov't/Main rebels ; 11px Gov't/SDF ; 11px Gov't/JaN ; 11px Gov't/IS ; 11px Main rebels/JaN ; 11px Main rebels/IS ; 11px SDFs/JaN ; 11px SDF/IS; 11px JaN/IS
Besieged one side **:** 11px 11px 11px 11px 11px 
&nbsp; 11px 11px 11px 11px 11px
&nbsp; 11px 11px 11px 11px 11px
&nbsp; 11px 11px 11px 11px 11px
&nbsp; 11px 11px 11px 11px 11px
&nbsp; 11px 11px 11px 11px 11px
&nbsp; 11px 11px 11px 11px 11px
&nbsp; 11px 11px 11px 11px 11px
Besieged **:** 2 nested circles: inner controls, outer sieges (or indicates strong enemy pressure) **:** 12px 12px 12px 12px 12px &nbsp; 
Military base **:** 13px 13px 13px 13px 13px 
&nbsp; Strategic hill **:** 13px 13px 13px 13px 13px &nbsp; Oil/gas **:** 13px 13px 13px 13px 13px
Airport/Air base (plane) **:** 13px 13px 13px 13px 13px &nbsp; 
Heliport/Helicopter base **:** 13px 13px 13px 13px 13px
12px Major port or naval base ; 20px Border Post ; 16px Dam ; 12px Industrial complex** 
Small icon within a larger icon**:** the situation in individual neighbourhood/district

## Dot size for cities & towns
Dot size for cities & towns (that are not provincial capitals) is based on the 2004 census (last available census):