Masyaf is located in Syria.
The real town of Masyaf lies in western Syria, in the Hama Governorate. In Assassin's Creed, its mountain fortress serves as the headquarters of the Levantine Assassin Brotherhood during Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's story. The fortress and surrounding town are among the game's most recognizable locations.
Historically, Masyaf is associated with the Nizari Ismaili community and its medieval fortress. The game's depiction is inspired by history but is not a complete documentary reconstruction. Masyaf is also not the same place as Alamut, another historically important fortress associated with the Nizari Ismailis and a major location in later Assassin's Creed stories. The country's modern name is Syria, even though the game depicts the region during the medieval period.