Aradus (now Ruad), a rocky islet, about a mile in circumference, lying 2 m. off the Syrian coast, in lat. 35° N., 35 m. N. of Tripoli. It was early occupied as a stronghold by the Phoenicians, known to the Hebrews as Arvad, a city second only to Tyre and Sidon, and held supremacy over a considerable tract on the adjacent mainland, where Antaradus was founded. The city shared in the general fortunes of Phoenicia, and about A. I). 638 was destroyed by Moawiyah, the lieutenant of the caliph Omar, and never rebuilt, Aradus is the only island on the Syrian coast mentioned by the historians of the crusades. It is now occupied by about 3,000 people, mainly fishermen. Remains of the old Phoenician walls are still to be seen.