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Jisr ash-Shughūr جِسْرُ ٱلشُّغُورِSeleucobelus
City
Covered market in the old town of Jisr ash-Shughūr (2009)
Jisr ash-ShughūrLocation in Syria
Coordinates: 35°48′45.3071″N 36°19′3.3791″E / 35.812585306°N 36.317605306°E / 35.812585306; 36.317605306
Country	Syria
Governorate	Idlib Governorate
District	Jisr ash-Shugur District
Subdistrict	Jist al-Shughur Subdistrict
Elevation	170 m (560 ft)
Population
• Total	44,322

Jisr ash-Shughūr (Arabic: جِسْرُ ٱلشُّغُورِ, romanized: jisr aš-šuġūr, pronounced [dʒɪsr aʃ.ʃuˈɣuːr], also rendered as Jisser ash-Shughour and other spellings), known in antiquity as Seleucobelus (Greek: Σελευκόβηλος, romanized: Seleukóbēlos), is a city in the Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria. Situated at an altitude of 170 metres (560 ft) above sea level on the Orontes river, the city was inhabited by 44,322 people as of 2010. The inhabitants are mostly Sunni Muslims, with a significant Christian minority (estimated at about 3,000 people in 2010), mostly Greek Orthodox. The city is the headquarters of the Sunni Islamist Chechen militia Junud al-Sham.

History

Jisr ash-Shughūr has long been an important stopping point on trade routes. It is situated on the main route between Latakia, which is 75 kilometres (47 mi) to the west, and Aleppo, which is 104 kilometres (65 mi) to the east. Located in the rich alluvial plain of the Ghab valley on the eastern side of the an-Nusayriyah Mountains (also known as Jebel Ansariye), the area has been continuously inhabited for over 10,000 years. The ancient city of Qarqar is thought to have been situated some 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south of the modern town, which was established in Hellenistic times as the city of Seleucia ad Belum. The Romans called it Niaccuba and built a stone bridge there across the Orontes. During the Crusader era, there was Chastel Rugia to the east, and another two castles, "Qalʻat ash-Shughr" and "Bakās", which formed the complex of ash-Shughr and Bakās to the northwest of Jisr ash-Shughūr, to be used to defend the region, until they were captured by Saladin in 1188.

Little remains of the ancient city other than portions of the much-repaired Roman bridge, which is now incorporated into a 15th-century Mamluk construction that still serves as one of the city's two bridges over the river. The bridge's V-shaped design was intended to enable it to withstand the force of the river's current. Although Jisr ash-Shughūr is mostly of modern construction, a number of old Ottoman-era buildings still survive, including a caravanserai built in the centre of the old town between 1660–75 and later restored in 1826–27. The town is referred to in 18th-century European sources as Choug, Shogle or Shoggle (the latter in the Encyclopédie).

During the Ottoman period, the town was often vulnerable to attack from the Kurdish tribes from the Sahyun district. For much of the 18th century, however, the town itself was controlled by the Kurdish agha (title) Muhammad ibn Rustum and his sons, first as kaymakam (deputy governor), then as mütevelli (manager) of the religious foundation of Köprülü Mehmed Pasha in Jisr ash-Shughūr. After the end of World War I, Jisr al-Shughur was the site of sustained resistance against the French occupation forces. In December 1920, the local rebel leader Ibrahim Hananu together with Kurdish bands from the Sahyun and with support of Kemalist insurgency forces from Turkey managed to seize the town from the French.

The city has been described as conservative and predominantly Sunni Muslim, with a history of unrest against the government of the ruling secular Arab nationalist Baʻth. It was the scene of a mass killing by Syrian security forces in 1980 that prefigured the later and more notorious Hama massacre. On 9 March 1980, against a background of anti-government protests across Syria, inhabitants of Jisr ash-Shughūr marched on the local Baʻth headquarters and set it on fire. The police were unable to restore order and fled. Some demonstrators seized weapons and ammunition from a nearby army barracks. Later that day, units of the Syrian Army Special Forces were helicoptered in from Aleppo to regain control, which they did after pounding the town with rockets and mortars, destroying homes and shops and killing and wounding dozens of people. At least two hundred people were arrested. The following day a military tribunal ordered the execution of more than a hundred of the detainees. In all, about 150–200 people were said to have been killed in a matter of hours.

Syrian civil war

Violence broke out in Jisr ash-Shughūr on 4 June 2011, three months into the Syrian civil war. Armed groups attacked local security forces, killed 120 members of the security forces, and seized control of the city, with many civilians fleeing to Latakia. Activists speaking to the BBC denied the government's version of these events, claiming that the cause of these deaths was unclear and may have been an internal mutiny. The Syrian military launched an operation in a crackdown against the allegedly guilty armed groups. The operation lasted until 12 June 2011. The city was reported to have been largely abandoned by its inhabitants, many of whom fled to neighbouring Turkey, as Syrian Army units massed outside to retake it. Over December 2011–January 2012, FSA took control, establishing a key rebel center. As of June 2012, the FSA was still in control, but by October 2012, the Syrian government was reported by Al Jazeera to be in control of the town. However, on 25 April 2015, the city was captured by an alliance of Salafist insurgents, including al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front, Ahrar al-Sham, and the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP). The city has become a stronghold of the TIP, and reportedly 3,500 militant Uyghurs have since settled in the city.

By July 2017, the city was under joint control of Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkistan Islamic Party. Syrian and Russian bombing of the city resumed in September 2017.

Climate

References

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2. Ross Burns (1999). Monuments of Syria: A Guide. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 139. ISBN 9781860642449.
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6. Yamada, Shigeo (2000). The construction of the Assyrian empire: a historical study of the inscriptions of Shalmanesar III relating to his campaigns in the West. Culture and history of the ancient Near East. Vol. 3. BRILL. p. 155. ISBN 978-90-04-11772-3.
7. ^ Burns, Ross (1999). Monuments of Syria: an historical guide. I.B. Tauris. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-86064-244-9.
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11. Winter, Stefan (2005). "Les Kurdes du Nord-Ouest syrien et l'État ottoman, 1690-1750". In Afifi, Mohammad (ed.). Sociétés rurales ottomanes / Ottoman Rural Societies. IFAO. ISBN 2724704118.p. 243-258
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13. Has Syria's peaceful uprising turned into an insurrection?, By Nicholas Blanford, / csmonitor.com June 9, 2011
14. ^ Dagher, Sam (2019). Assad or we burn the country : how one family's lust for power destroyed Syria (First ed.). New York. ISBN 978-0-316-55672-9. OCLC 1101180175.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
15. Human rights in Syria. Human Rights Watch. 1990. pp. 16–17. ISBN 0-929692-69-1.
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18. Chulov, Martin; Hassan, Nidaa (7 June 2011). "Syrian town empties as government tanks mass outside". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
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26. "World-wide Agroclimatic Data of FAO (FAOCLIM)". Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations. Retrieved 21 December 2024.

v t e Cities and towns of Syria
Governorate centres	Aleppo Damascus Daraa Deir ez-Zor Hama al-Hasakah Homs Idlib Latakia Quneitra Raqqa Rif Dimashq Suwayda Tartus
District centres	Abu Kamal Afrin Ariha Atarib Ayn al-Arab Azaz al-Bab Baniyas Darayya Dayr Hafir Douma Duraykish Fiq al-Haffah Harem Izra' Jableh Jarabulus Jisr ash-Shughur Maarat al-Numaan al-Malikiyah Manbij Masyaf Mayadin Mhardeh al-Mukharram al-Foqani an-Nabk Palmyra Qamishli Qardaha Qatana Qudsaya al-Qusayr al-Qutayfah Ra's al-'Ayn al-Rastan as-Safira Safita Salamiyah Salkhad al-Sanamayn Shahba ash-Shaykh Badr al-Suqaylabiyah Talkalakh al-Tall Tell Abyad al-Thawrah Yabroud Zabadani
Sub-district centres	Abu Qilqil Abu al-Thuhur Akhtarin Amuda Arbeen Arima al-Ariqah al-Arishah Armanaz Arwad al-Asharah Assal al-Ward Awj Ayn al-Fijah Ayn Halaqim Ayn Issa Ayn al-Nasr Babbila Banan Barri Sharqi Beit Jinn Binnish Bir al-Helou Bosra Bulbul Busayrah Da'el al-Dana Darat Izza Darkush al-Darbasiyah Deir Atiyah al-Dimas al-Dumayr Furqlus Ghabaghib Ghandoura al-Ghariyah al-Ghizlaniyah al-Hader Hadidah al-Hajar al-Aswad al-Hajib Hajin al-Hamidiyah al-Hamraa Harasta Harbnafsah Harran al-Awamid al-Hirak Hish Hisyah al-Hawl Huraytan al-Huwash Ibbin Samaan Ihsim Jayrud al-Jalaa al-Janudiyah Jaramana al-Jarniyah Jasim al-Jawadiyah Jubb al-Jarrah Jubb Ramlah Jindires al-Jiza al-Qabu Kafr Batna Kafr Nabl Kafr Takharim Kafr Zita al-Karamah al-Kasrah Kessab al-Khafsah Khan Shaykhun Khasham Kirnaz Kuwayris Sharqi Khanaser Khirbet Ghazaleh Khirbet al-Tin Mahmoud al-Kiswah Ma'arrat Misrin Maabatli Maadan Maaloula Madaya Mahin Malah al-Malihah al-Mansurah Mare' Markada Mashta al-Helu Maskanah al-Masmiyah al-Mazraa Muhambal Muhasan al-Musayfirah al-Mushannaf Muzayrib al-Nashabiyah al-Nasirah Nawa Nubl al-Qadmus al-Qahtaniyah Qalaat al-Madiq Qarah al-Qaryatayn al-Qurayya Qurqania Rajo Rankus Rasm Harmil al-Imam al-Rai al-Riqama al-Ruhaybah al-Saan Saasaa Sabburah al-Sabe' Biyar al-Sabkhah Sadad Sahnaya Saidnaya Salqin Saraqib Sarmin Sarrin Sawran Sebei al-Shaddadah al-Shajara Shaqqa Sharran Shathah Shaykh al-Hadid al-Shaykh Maskin Shayukh Tahtani Shin Sinjar Sirghaya Slinfah Suluk al-Surah al-Saghirah al-Suwar Suran al-Susah al-Sukhnah al-Tabni Talbiseh Taldou al-Tamanah Tasil Tell al-Daman Tell Hamis Tell Rifaat Tell Salhab Tell Tamer Tedef Thiban Uqayribat Urum al-Kubra Wadi al-Oyun al-Yaarubiyah al-Zirbah az-Ziyarah

v t e Idlib Governorate
Capital: Idlib
Idlib District Idlib Subdistrict Idlib Al-Mastumah Faylun Qminas Aqrabat Arshani Ein Shib Kafruhin Kreiz Martein Nayrab Ora Shamaliyah Sijer Tab Issa Gharbi wa Sharki Abu al-Duhur Subdistrict Abu al-Duhur Tell Sultan Tell Touqan Ballisa Baragethi Barissa Busra - Zafar Saghir Harmala Hmeimat Eldayer Hseiniyeh - Tell Kalba Jallas Jdidhe Abu Elthohur Msheirfeh Mustariha Ras El Ein Rasm Abed Tell Elaghar Tell Fukhar Tell Silmo Taljineh Talkhatra Tawahineh Tawil Elsheikh Tweim Taweila Zafar al-Kabir Saraqib Subdistrict Saraqib Khan al-Sabil Mardikh Abul Khos Afs Ajez Anqrati Bijfas Bweiti Dadikh Jobas Kafr Battikh Kafr Amim Khuwara Lof Maar Dibsi Maharem Rasafa Rayan Salamin San Sheikh Idris Tell Karatine Tronba Taftanaz Subdistrict Taftanaz Ketyan Maaret Elnaasan Shallakh Talhiyeh Maarrat Misrin Subdistrict Maarrat Misrin Zardana Haranabush Hizano Kafriya Kaftin Killi Maarrat al-Ikhwan Batenta Bhora Kafr Jales Kafr Nabi Kafr Yahmul Murin Ram Hamdan Taltuneh Binnish Subdistrict Binnish Al-Fu'ah Ta'um Sarmin Subdistrict Sarmin
Ma'arrat al-Nu'man District Maarrat al-Nu'man Subdistrict Ma'arrat al-Nu'man Abu Makki Babilla Barsa Bsida Al-Dana Deir al-Gharbi Deir Sharqi Al-Ghadfa Halbeh Hantutin Harran Hatamiyeh Hazzan Hraki Jarada Jarjnaz Kafr Rumah Kanayes Kuweires Maar Shamshah Maar Shamarin Maar Shurin Maasaran Qaratli Samkeh Sarman Tell Dibis Tell Kersyan Tell Mannas Thahrat Talamnas Tqana Khan Shaykhun Subdistrict Khan Shaykhun Abdin Baarbu Hbit Kafr Ein Nqeir Qasabiyeh Umm Zaytuna Sinjar Subdistrict Sinjar Abu Sharji Abul Eleij Bashkun Borj Brennan Dreibiyeh Dwadiyeh Ejaz Fahil Jallas Ferwan Ghazileh Halban Hawa Heisa Jaberiyeh Jahman Jeb Elqasab Kafraya Elmaarra Karatin al-Kabir Karatin Saghir Karsanti Khayriyeh Khayriyeh Saghira Khwein Elshaer Khyara Lweibdeh Shamaliyah Lweibdeh Sharki Magharet Merza Maksar Mardagana Burtuqala Mreiheb Mreijeb Elmashad Mutawaseta Nibaz Ojeh Qasr Elabyad Qatra Rabeeah Brennan Rabeeah Musa Rasm Elabed Saree Sarja Gharbiya Sarja Sharkiya Sayadi Seraa Shara - Sharat Elajayez Sheikh Barakeh Sqiah Tell Dam Tell Elojeh Tell Halawa Tellemara Thleijeh Umm Sehrij Umm Tini Umm Mweilat Janubiyah Kafr Nabl Subdistrict Kafr Nabl Hazarin Hass Basqala Dara al-Kabira Faqie Fleifel Ftireh Jbala Kafr Musa Kafr Oweid Karsaa Kawkabeh Lweibdeh Maar Tahroma Maar Tamater Maar Tesin Maarzita Milaja Qoqfin Rasha Shamaliya Sfuhen Sheikh Mustafa Shorlin Tramla Umm Nir Tamanah Subdistrict Al-Tamanah Sukayk Abu Dali Abu Omar Breiseh Dajaj Farja Hamadaniyeh Khwein al-Kabir Mashraf Rajmel Mashraf Msheirfeh Qabliyeh Mushayrifa Shamaliya Niha Qleiat Eltubiyeh Raffa Rweideh Sahal Shatib Tell Khanzir Tell Maraq Tama Umm Elkhalayel Umm Jalal Hish Subdistrict Hish Abu Habbeh Ameriyeh Amudiyeh Armanaya Babuline Jabala Sharqiya Kafr Basin Kafrsajna Maar Hattat Maysruneh Moqa Rakaya Sijneh Sahyan Salhiyeh Sheikh Dames Al-Tah Tahtaya
Ariha District Ariha Subdistrict Ariha Iblin Kafr Latah Kurin Nahlaya Shinan Urum al-Jawz Abkally Bab Ellah Banin Bazabur Berjhab Ebneh Kafr Shalaya Kafraziba Maarbalit Maarzaf Majdaliya Moataf Maataram Mseibin Nahleh Sarja Thaheriya Al-Badria Ihsim Subdistrict Ihsim Al-Rami Juzif Marayan Abdita Arnaba Balshun Balyun Bara Bsames Deir Sunbul Ein Laruz Farkya Iblin Kafr Haya Kansafra Maghara Marata Mozra Muhambal Subdistrict Muhambal Anb Bales Baqlid Baydar Shamsu Beftamun Bsanqul Hila Hlul Hmeimat Jadraya Kafrmid Kniseh Laj Shamali Matleh, Ariha Ora Qabli - Edwan Sahen Sararif Shagurit Al-Sad Al-Marj
Jisr al-Shughur District Jisr al-Shughur Subdistrict Jisr ash-Shughur Al-Marj Al-Akhdar Al-Sharqi Alyeh Balmis Bkafla Bsheiriyeh - Bello Bteibat Bzeit Dgali Ein Elhamra Ein Elsoda Eshtabraq Frikeh Ghanya Al-Ghassaniyah Hallouz Hseiniyeh Jannet Elqora Kafir Kniset Nakhleh Maalaqa - Bishlamon Marj Akhdar Gharbi Marj Elzohur Matleh Mintar Msheirfeh Qaysiyeh Rawda Sabileh Salhiyeh Sali Sheikh Sindyan Fawqani Shghur Fawqani Sokkariyeh Tell Awar Tell Hamki Umm Elgar Umm Rish Watba Al-Arien Shughur Tahtani Bidama Subdistrict Bidama Armala Baksariya Ein El-Bayda Hanbushiyeh Kherbet Eljoz Kinda Maraand Najiyeh Ramliyeh Shaturiyeh Tuffahiyeh Yunesiyeh Sheikh Sndian Tahtani Darkush Subdistrict Darkush Zarzur Amud Andnaniyeh - Farjein Deir Othman Dorriyeh Ghazala - Mgheidleh Jamiliya Matleh - Batlaya Mazuleh Maryamin Ramadiyeh Sadiyeh - Bsentiya Sawadiya - Nabhan Sheikh Issa Elashury Thahr Turin Zahraa Zanbaqi Janudiyah Subdistrict Al-Janudiyah Al-Quniyah Al-Yacoubiyah Athar Foz - Zuf Hamama - Kafr Debbin Hassaniyeh - Hatya Judayda Maland Mudiah - Luxin Nasra Qaderiyeh - Qayqun Tiba - Katrin
Harem District Harem Subdistrict Harem Ariba Besnaya - Bseineh Kafr Hum Kafr Mu Mira Shaq Dana Subdistrict Al-Dana Salwah Atme Qah Kafr Dariyan Sarmada Taladah Turmanin Aqrabat Burj Elnumra Deir Hassan - Darhashan Hezreh - Hezri Tell Elkarame Salqin Subdistrict Salqin Abu Talha Isqat Al-Alani Azmarin Talamar Betiya Bozanti Delbiya Ein Elbikara Foziyeh Hamziyeh Hir Jamus Kabir Hir Jamus Saghir Kafarna Kafr Hind Kafrahlat Jallad Saidiyeh Al-Shiokh Al-Tlul Kafr Takharim Subdistrict Kafr Takharim Kafr Kila Abarita Bshendlaya - Rashadiya Helleh Jadeen Kafr Maris Kuku - Ein Eljaj Taltita Qurqania Subdistrict Qurqania Banabil Barisha Qalb Loze Boz Ghaz Htan Kafr Aruq Merat Elshalaf Rabeeta Radwa Ras Elhisn Sardin Tur Laha Armanaz Subdistrict Armanaz Biret Armanaz Bsaliya Dweila Ghafar Hafasraja Haj Jomaa Kabta Kuwaro - Umm Elriyah Millis Quneitra Sheikh Yousef

• Cities in Syria
• Populated places in Jisr al-Shughur District