Misplaced Pages

Tell Rifaat تل رفعت
City
Tell Rifaat in 2015
Tell RifaatLocation of Tell Rifaat in Syria
Coordinates: 36°28′24″N 37°05′50″E / 36.4733°N 37.0972°E / 36.4733; 37.0972
Country	Syria
Governorate	Aleppo
District	Azaz
Subdistrict	Tell Rifaat
Control	Turkey Syrian Interim Government
Elevation	457 m (1,499 ft)
Population	85,833
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Geocode	C1621

Tell Rifaat (Arabic: تل رفعت, romanized: Tall Rifʿat, also spelled Tel Rifaat, Tel Rif'at or Tal Rifaat) is a city in northern Aleppo Governorate, northwestern Syria. Located roughly 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Aleppo, the city is the administrative center of Nahiya Tell Rifaat. Nearby localities include Azaz to the north, Mare' to the east, Kafr Naya to the south, Deir Jmal and Oqayba to the southwest and Ibbin Samaan to the west. In the 2004 census, Tell Rifaat had a population of 20,514.

During the Syrian Civil War, Tell Rifaat was captured by the Free Syrian Army in 2012, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in 2014, and the Islamic Front in 2015. During this time, the town was bombed several times by the Syrian government and its allies. Tell Rifaat was captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces on 16 February 2016 after heavy Russian air strikes which destroyed all three health facilities in the town. Following a rebel offensive against the SAA in December 2024, the town once again fell under control of rebel forces, the Turkish backed Syrian National Army.

History

Tell Rifaat has been inhabited since the Iron Age when it was known as "Arpad." It became the capital of the north Syrian Aramaean state of Bit Agusi established by Gus of Yahan in the 9th-century BCE. Bit Agusi stretched from the A'zaz area in the north to Hamath in the south.

Arpad later became a major vassal city of the Kingdom of Urartu. In 743 BCE, during the Urartu-Assyria War, the Neo-Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser II laid siege to Arpad following the defeat of the Urartuan army of Sarduri II at Samsat. The siege ended with the Assyrian capture of the city in 743 BCE. Afterward Arpad served a provincial capital. The remains of Arpad's walls are still preserved in Tell Rifaat to the height of 8 meters.

A settlement existed on the modern-day site of Tell Rifaat during the Seleucid period (301 BCE-63 BCE). A hoard of coins from this period was discovered in 1967. After the nearby Tell Aran, Tell Rifaat is the largest tell in the Jabal Semʻān region.

Syrian Civil War

For a period during the Syrian Civil War which began in March 2011, Tell Rifaat came under siege by Syrian security forces. During the siege, residents were unable to receive food supplies, including bread, from Aleppo.

In the early summer of 2012, Syrian government authorities withdrew from Tell Rifaat following fighting with the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Following this, government authorities in the town were replaced by a council made up of local Islamic scholars, judges and former Syrian Army officers, ruling in the basis of Sharia. Since its capture by the FSA, opposition rebels have been transporting flour for bread from Turkey to Tell Rifaat.

On 8 August 2012, Tell Rifaat was bombed by the Syrian Air Force, resulting in the deaths of 6 people, all members of the Blaw family. Opposition activists based in Aleppo claimed that Syrian Army forces were attempting to cut off the FSA's transport route between Tell Rifaat and Aleppo.

By November 2013, the town came under control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) after they ousted the local Al-Tawhid Brigade. In January 2014, ISIL forces withdrew from the northern Aleppo area, and rebel fighters, mainly members of the Al-Nusra Front and Islamic Front, defeated ISIL militants in the town. The Conquest Brigade of the Islamic Front came into control of the town.

By January 2015, Tell Rifaat was under the control of the Conquest Brigade of the Islamic Front.

On 15 February 2016, the town was captured by the Kurdish YPG and the Syrian Democratic Forces, led by the Army of Revolutionaries. Russian airstrikes, which preceded the SDF assault, forced the majority of the population to escape. Since the SDF capture of Tell Rifaat, the town became the headquarters of the Army of Revolutionaries. After the Turkish Army and allied rebel groups captured Afrin during Operation Olive Branch, displaced residents of Tel Rifaat rallied in Azaz to demand the expulsion of the SDF from the town. At the end of March 2018, the Syrian Republican Guard and the Russian Armed Forces entered the town.

On 2 December 2019 a Turkish artillery attack killed eight children, all under 15 years old, on their walk to school.

On 1 December 2024, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army took control of Tell Rifaat and its surrounding villages in Operation Dawn of Freedom. This left the Kurdish community living there isolated from the other nearby Kurdish areas.

See also

• Euphrates Syrian Pillar Figurines
• Euphrates Handmade Syrian Horses and Riders

References

1. ^ "Syrian National Army enters Tel Rifaat in major offensive against PKK/YPG terror corridor". www.aa.com.tr. Anadolu Agency. 1 December 2024. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
2. "More than 200,000 Syrians trapped in Operation "Dawn of Freedom"... Communications cut off in northern Aleppo countryside and fears of massacres against Kurdish citizens" (in Arabic). SOHR. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
3. "Tell Rifaat".
4. "2004 Census Data for Nahiya Tell Rifaat" (in Arabic). Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics. Also available in English: UN OCHA. "2004 Census Data". Humanitarian Data Exchange.
5. "Syrian and Russian forces targeting hospitals as a strategy of war". Amnesty International. 2016-06-03. Archived from the original on 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
6. ^ Lipinsky, 2000, p. 195.
7. Lipinsky, 2000, p. 99.
8. Healy, 1992, p. 25.
9. Kipfer, p. 626.
10. Lipinsky, 2000, p. 529.
11. Grainger, 1997, p. 787.
12. Lipinsky, 2000, p. 208.
13. ^ "Tel Rifaat residents hail rebels for control of town". Hurriyet Daily News. 2012-08-07. Archived from the original on 2012-08-08. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
14. Zalewski, Piotr. Syria’s Rebel Judges Promise Sharia Justice With Mercy Archived 2024-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. TIME. 2012-08-10.
15. Syrian Troops Push Into Aleppo To Oust Rebels. National Public Radio, originally published by Associated Press. 2012-08-09.
16. "Clashes rage in Syria's rebel bastions". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2012-08-09. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
17. Walsh, Gul Tuysuz,Raja Razek,Nick Paton (2013-11-05). "Al Qaeda-linked group strengthens hold in northern Syria". CNN. Retrieved 2024-12-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
18. ^ "Special Report: Northern Storm and the Situation in Azaz (Syria)". MERIA Journal. 7 January 2015. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
19. Nick Paton Walsh. "Syria war near Aleppo: Huge impact on Sunni moderates". CNN. Archived from the original on 2017-07-06. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
20. "The Syrian Refugees Trapped Between an Angry Turkey and a Vengeful Assad". Time magazine. 18 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
21. "Jaysh al-Thuwar: Regime and opposition claims are baseless". Hawar News Agency. 12 February 2017. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
22. "Residents of Syria's Tel Rifaat demand Turkey to free their town like Afrin". TRT. 2018-03-24. Archived from the original on 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
23. "Video confirmation: Tal Riffat under control of Syrian Army Republican Guard and Russian Army". Al Masdar News. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
24. "Eight children reportedly killed in attacks on Tal Rifaat in rural Aleppo in the north of Syria". UNICEF. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
25. "Several children killed in Turkish artillery attack in northern Syria, monitor says". France 24. 2019-12-02. Archived from the original on 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
26. "More than 200,000 Syrians trapped in Operation "Dawn of Freedom"... Communications cut off in northern Aleppo countryside and fears of massacres against Kurdish citizens" (in Arabic). SOHR. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
27. "Turkish-backed forces advance on Kurdish areas in Aleppo, 200,000 face isolation: war monitor - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 2024-12-02.

Bibliography

• Healy, Mark (1992). The Ancient Assyrians. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855321637.
• Grainger, John D. (1997). A Seleukid Prosopography and Gazetteer. BRILL. ISBN 9004107991. Archived from the original on 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
• Kipfer, Barbara Ann (2000). Encyclopedic Dictionary of Archaeology. Springer. ISBN 0306461587.
• Lipinsky, Edward (2000). The Aramaeans: Their Ancient History, Culture, Religion. Peeters Publishers. ISBN 9042908599.

v t e Aleppo Governorate
Capital: Aleppo
Mount Simeon District Mount Simeon Subdistrict Aleppo Abtin Assan Ayn al-Kabira Azzan Duwayr al-Zaytun Haddadin Hayyan Hilan Hreibel Kafr Saghir Khan Tuman Maghayer Khan Tuman Maratat al-Muslimiyah al-Muslimiyah al-Muslimiyah al-Shamaliyah Qarras Rasm Assan Saqlaya Siefat Tell Shair Samaan Tell Shughayb al-Dhahabiyah al-Wadihi Tell ad-Daman‎ Subdistrict Tell al-Daman Abu Rweil Ameriyeh Arjel Atshana Sharqiya Atshana Gharbiya Ballas Ballas al-Jadida Batranah Burda Buwaida Saghira Deir Saliba Hmeidi Hober Jubb Aleis Kafr Obeid al-Mintar Mreiqes Oweinat Kabira Rasm al-Mofakker Tabara al-Khusheir Um al-Karamel Haritan Subdistrict Haritan Anadan Babis Bashkoy Hayyan Fah Kafr Bssin Kafr Hamrah Maarat al-Artiq Naqqarin Shaykh Najjar Shaykh Zayat Shamer Yaqed al-Adas Darat Izza Subdistrict Darat Izza Bshantara Basrtun Bishqatin Kafrantin al-Hoteh Hur Injarah Irhab Qabtan al-Jabal al-Sakhriyah Taqad al-Hadher Subdistrict al-Hadher al-Eiss Dalamah Jmeimeh Maryamin Samaan Tell Dadin al-Zirbah Subdistrict al-Zirbah Abad Arada Banes Barnah Barqum Bawabiyah Humayrah Huweir al-Eiss Jazraya Jubb Kas Kassibeh Othmaniya Kabira Rasm al-Eiss Talafeh Tell Allush Tell Hidyah Zitan Ziyara Samaan Zammar Subdistrict Zammar
Azaz District Azaz Subdistrict Azaz al-Fayruziyah Jarez Kafr Kalbin Kafr Khasher Kaljibrin Al-Krum Ma'arin al-Malikiyah Maraanaz Menagh Nayarah Naddah al-Salameh Shamarikh Shamarin Sijaraz Tatiyah Tulayl ash-Sham Yahmul Akhtarin Subdistrict Akhtarin Ablah Aq Burhan Arshaf Bahwartah Baruza Dabiq Dudyan Duweidan Ghaytun Ghurur Ka'ibah Kadrish Qabtan Qar Kalbin Taanah Tal'ar Gharbi Tal'ar Sharqi Tall Battal Tall Tanah Tat Hims Turkman Bareh Ziadiyah Tell Rifaat Subdistrict Tell Rifaat Ahras Deir Jamal Kafr Naseh Kafr Naya Shaykh Issa Tell Jabin Mare' Subdistrict Mare' Fafin Herbel Ma'arat Umm Hawsh Sunbul Talalin Tell Qarah Nubl Subdistrict Nubl Bayanoun Mayer Ratyan al-Zahraa Sawran Subdistrict Sawran Baraghida Bel Duwaybiq Hawar Kilis Ihtaimlat al-Judaydah Kafra Kafr Burayshah Kafr Shoush Murayghil Rael Shuwayrin al-Yaarubiyah al-Yamamah Az-Zahiriyah Zayzafun
Afrin District Afrin Subdistrict Afrin Ain Dara Awlad al-Arab Barad Baselhaya Basuta Basufan Beit Adin Burj Abdullah Inab Kafr Nabu Kalota Kimar Maryamin Oqayba Qibar Bulbul Subdistrict Bulbul Burj Haider Darmashkanli Deir Ballut Fafertin Jalbul Karzahayel Jandairis Subdistrict Jindires Jalamah Kafr Safra Maabatli Subdistrict Maabatli Rajo Subdistrict Rajo Meidan Ekbis Sharran Subdistrict Sharran Qatma Shaykh al-Hadid Subdistrict Shaykh al-Hadid
Atarib District Atarib Subdistrict Atarib al-Abzamo Batibo al-Jinah Ibbin Samaan Subdistrict Ibbin Samaan Kafr Halab Kafr Karmin Kafr Naha Kafr Nasih al-Atarib Kafr Nuran Maarat Atarib Awayjil al-Sahharah al-Shaykh Ali Urum al-Kubra Subdistrict Urum al-Kubra Urum al-Sughra
Ayn al-Arab District Ayn al-Arab Subdistrict Ayn al-Arab al-Farazdaq al-Haqel Jaadat al-Samaawat al-Jalbiyah Subdistrict al-Jalbiyah Jubb Faraj Kabir Mil Qibbah Qinayah Ramilah Ras al-Ayn Qibli Sarrin Subdistrict Sarrin Shuyukh Fawqani Shuyukh Tahtani Subdistrict Shuyukh Tahtani Tell Abyad Tahtani
Al-Bab District Al-Bab Subdistrict al-Bab Abu Jabbar Abu Taltal Ameriyeh Arima Subdistrict Arima Arran Barlahin Bizaah al-Burj Deir Qaq Haddabat Haji Kusa Hezwan Kherbet Kiyar Maran Oweishiyeh Qabbasin Al-Rai Subdistrict Al-Rai Sosyan Tadef Subdistrict Tadef Tell Rahal al-Waqf
Dayr Hafir District Dayr Hafir Subdistrict Dayr Hafir Humaymah Kabirah al-Jabbul Umm el-Marra Kuweires Sharqi Subdistrict Kuweires Sharqi Mazburah al-Raa'i Rasm al-Abed Rasm Harmil al-Imam Subdistrict Rasm Harmil al-Imam Shaykh Ahmad Tell Ayoub
Jarabulus District Jarabulus Subdistrict Jarabulus al-Bir Fawqani al-Bir Tahtani al-Hajaliah al-Haluwaniyah al-Jamel Amarnah Ayn al-Bayda Balaban Dabis Haymar Jarabulus Tahtani Marma al-Hajar Mazaalah Qandariyah Qirata Qirq Maghar Umm Rutha Tahtani Yusuf Bayk Zugharah Ghandoura Subdistrict Ghandoura Al-Kuliya Al-Shahid Al-Qadi Arab Azzah Belis Fursan Jubb al-Dam Lilawa Nabghah Tell Aghbar‎ Tell Hajar Qubbat at-Turkuman al-Suwaydah
Manbij District Manbij Subdistrict Manbij Abu Kahf Subdistrict Abu Kahf Abu Qilqil Subdistrict Abu Qilqil Arab Hassan Kabir Awsajli Kabir Dakhirah Dandaniya Hamir Labidah Hayyah Kabirah Jubb Hamza Al-Khafsah Subdistrict Al-Khafsah Khan al-Humr al-Maamurah al-Mahsanah Khafsah Maskanah Subdistrict Maskanah Mallah Mujammaa Huttin al-Nasiriyah Fawqani Qashlat Yusef Basha Ras al-Ayn al-Bumane' Saan al-Ghazal al-Tadamon Talhuthan Tell Aswad Tell Akhdar Tishrin al-Zahirah Zunqul
As-Safira District As-Safira Subdistrict as-Safira Abu Jurayn al-Safirah Aqrabah Banan Subdistrict Banan al-Hajib Subdistrict al-Hajib Hawwaz Khanasir Subdistrict Khanasir Qulayaa Rasm Al-Nafl al-Samiriyah Tat Tell Aran Subdistrict Tell Aran Tell Hasil Zira'ah

• Cities in Syria
• Populated places in Azaz District
• Iron Age sites in Syria
• Archaeological sites in Aleppo Governorate