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Syrian Kurdistan or Western Kurdistan refers to an area in the Middle East, located in northern and north-eastern Syria. The term is a Kurdish nationalist description of a geographic area, historically populated by Kurds, and included in the Syrian state by French Mandatory authorities following WWI. Since 2012, much of the Syrian Kurdistan came to be controlled by Kurdish militant groups as part of the Syrian civil war.

Syrian Kurdistan (Kurdistan Region of Syria)Herêma Kurdistana Sûriyê
Flag Coat of arms of Syrian Kurdistan Coat of arms
Anthem: Ey Reqîb Oh Enemy
Location of Iraqi Kurdistan (green) within Iraq.
Capitaland largest city	Hewlêr (Erbil / Arbil)
Recognised regional languages	Neo-Aramaic
Official languages	Kurdish Arabic
Demonym(s)	Kurdish
Government	Parliamentary democracy
• President	Massoud Barzani
• Prime Minister	Nechirvan Barzani
Autonomous region
• Accord signed	March 11, 1970
• De facto independence	October, 1991
• Regional government established	July 4, 1992
• Recognized in transitional constitution	January 30, 2005
Area
• Total	40,643 km (15,692 sq mi)
Population
• 2012 estimate	5,299,304
Currency	Iraqi dinar (IQD)
Time zone	UTC+3
Drives on	Right
Calling code	+964
Internet TLD	.iq

Kurdistan

Kurdish-inhabited areas
Language	Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic and Persian
Location	Western and Northwestern Iranian Plateau: Upper Mesopotamia, Zagros, Southeastern Anatolia, including parts of northwestern Iran, northern Iraq, northeastern Syria and southeastern Turkey
Area (Est.)	190,000 km²–390,000 km² 74,000 sq.mi–151,000 sq.mi
Population	25 to 30 Million (Kurdish Population) (Est.)

Kurdish nationalist concept

Contemporary use of Kurdistan refers to parts of eastern Turkey (Turkish Kurdistan), northern Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan), northwestern Iran (Iranian Kurdistan) and northern Syria (Western Kurdistan) inhabited mainly by Kurds. Kurdistan roughly encompasses the northwestern Zagros and the eastern Taurus mountain ranges,

2012 Kurdish conflict in Syria

Under the administration of the Kurdish Supreme Committee, the Popular Protection Units (YPG) were created to control the Kurdish inhabited areas in Syria. On 19 July, the YPG captured the city of Kobanê (Ayn al-Arab), and the next day captured Amûdê and Efrîn. The KNC and PYD afterwards formed a joint leadership council to run the captured cities. By 24 July, the Syrian Kurdish cities of Dêrika Hemko (Al-Malikiyah), Serê Kaniyê (Ra's al-'Ayn), Dirbêsî (Al-Darbasiyah) and Girkê Legê (Al-Ma'bada) had also come under the control of the Popular Protection Units. The only major Kurdish inhabited cities that remained under government control were Hasaka and Qamishli.

Cities and towns of Syrian Kurdistan

See also

• Al-Jazira province
• Iranian Kurdistan
• Iraqi Kurdistan
• Turkish Kurdistan

References

1. The secret garden of the Syrian Kurdistan
2. Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
3. CIA World Factbook: Iraq
4. http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/5342.html
5. "Kurdistan - Definitions from Dictionary.com". Retrieved 2007-10-21.
6. "Kurdish Studies Program". Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
7. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, 2005.
8. Kurdistan, Britannica Concise.
9. ^ "More Kurdish Cities Liberated As Syrian Army Withdraws from Area". Rudaw. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
10. "Armed Kurds Surround Syrian Security Forces in Qamishli". Rudaw. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
11. "Girke Lege Becomes Sixth Kurdish City Liberated in Syria". Rudaw. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.

Template:Iranian-speaking regions

• Secession in Syria
• Kurdistan independence movement
• Kurds in Syria